Don’t get arrested for love: CBK issues warning on gifting cash ahead of Valentine’s Day

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has issued a warning to Kenyans over the misuse of currency notes as gifts ahead of the highly anticipated February 14, Valentine’s Day.

In a statement shared on its official X account on Monday, February 2, 2026, the bank noted that there has been a growing trend of using Kenya Shilling banknotes for decorative purposes, including cash flower bouquets, ornamental displays, and similar arrangements.

“The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has noted a growing trend in the use of Kenya Shilling banknotes for decorative and celebratory purposes, including the preparation of cash flower bouquets, ornamental displays, and similar arrangements,” the statement read in part.

According to the CBK, many of these practices involve folding, rolling, glueing, taping, stapling, pinning, or otherwise affixing banknotes using adhesives and fastening materials.

The bank explained that such handling compromises the integrity of the notes and renders them unsuitable for circulation.

“In many instances, banknotes are folded, rolled, glued, taped, stapled, pinned, or otherwise affixed using adhesives and fastening materials. Such practices compromise the integrity of Kenya Shilling banknotes and render them unsuitable for circulation,” the statement noted.

The central bank also highlighted that the use of adhesives, staples, pins, and other materials can interfere with cash-handling and processing equipment such as automated teller machines (ATMs), cash counting machines, and sorting devices.

CBK warned that this leads to increased rejection of banknotes during processing and causes premature withdrawal and replacement at unnecessary cost to the public and the bank.

“The use of adhesives, pins, staples, and similar materials damages banknotes and interferes with the efficient operation of cath-handling and processing equipment, including automated teller machines (ATMs), cash counting machines, and sorting equipment. This results in increased rejection of banknotes during processing and leads to the premature withdrawal and replacement of currency, at an avoidable cost to the public and the Bank,” it stated.

While emphasising that giving money as a gift is acceptable, the CBK clarified that currency notes must remain in a condition that allows them to circulate freely.

“Any action that alters, damages, or defaces banknotes is prohibited under Section 367 of the Penal Code (Cap. 63),” the bank said, noting that those who willfully deface or impair currency notes commit an offence.

The bank urged the public to adopt alternative, non-damaging ways of presenting monetary gifts, particularly during Valentine’s Day celebrations.

“While CBK does not object to the use of cash as a gift, such use should not involve any action that alters, damages, or defaces banknotes. Curvacy should restrain in a condition. that allows it to circulate freely and perform its intended functions as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and store of value. Any person who willfully defaces, mutilates, or in any way impairs any currency note issued by lawful authority commits an offence under the Penal Code,” the CBK statement added.

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