The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has received international recognition after winning the Best New Series of Banknotes award at the High Security Printing – Europe, Middle East, and Africa (HSP-EMEA) Conference. The prestigious award acknowledges the introduction of CBK’s new banknote series, which was launched in August 2024 and features advanced security enhancements.
According to the award citation, the new series, comprising KES 1,000, 500, 200, 100, and 50 banknotes, maintains the same design as the previous series but incorporates state-of-the-art security features to prevent counterfeiting. These include Louisenthal’s RollingStar® j+ thread on all denominations, as well as ZigZag dynamic movement effects for the KES 1,000, 500, and 200 notes. The KES 100 and 50 denominations feature the Crystal effect, while all the notes include iridescent bands with UV properties and dual-color fluorescence for added security.
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Despite these enhancements, the overall thematic artwork of the banknotes remains unchanged. Each note bears the signatures of CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge and National Treasury Principal Secretary Dr. Chris Kiptoo, with 2024 clearly marked on them for easy identification.
Speaking on the recognition, CBK Governor Dr. Kamau Thugge emphasized the importance of the award, stating, “The award puts the Kenyan series of banknotes at the forefront of being appealing, secure and of world class status. They utilise the latest technology to mitigate against counterfeiting, giving citizens assurance on the security of their currency.”
The award ceremony took place on February 4, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland, bringing together key players in security document printing. The event focused on government-issued secure documents, including currency, excise stamps, identification cards, e-passports, visas, vehicle documents, and licenses.
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CBK first announced the rollout of the new banknotes in August 2024, beginning with the KES 1,000 note, followed by the KES 500, 200, 100, and 50 notes. These new notes have been circulating alongside the 2019 series.
The HSP-EMEA Conference is a significant event focused on security document technologies across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It brings together experts and authorities in the field of secure printing, including currency, fiduciary documents, and identity documents. In past events, the Central Bank of Oman was recognized for their new series celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Modern Omani Renaissance, and the Reserve Bank of Malawi for their 5,000 kwacha note.