Kenya warns against cash bouquets, cite legal, economic risks

Kenya’s central bank has cautioned the public that using banknotes to create decorative cash bouquets was illegal and could attract severe penalties, including imprisonment.

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) issued the warning on 2, February 2026, saying the increasingly popular trend—often promoted on social media—amounted to defacing the national currency.

The practice typically involves rolling, pinning, stapling or gluing banknotes into floral-style arrangements for birthdays, weddings and other celebrations, according to Africa news.

According to the CBK, such handling compromises the integrity of the notes, rendering them unfit for circulation.

Damaged banknotes, the bank said, cannot be processed by automated teller machines (ATMs) or cash-counting equipment, resulting in unnecessary replacement costs for both the public and the financial system.

Under Kenyan law, individuals found guilty of damaging currency risk penalties of up to seven years’ imprisonment.

While the central bank clarified that it did not object to cash being given as a gift, it urged the public to adopt alternative presentation methods that did not physically damage the notes.

The announcement has drawn mixed reactions online, with some social media users welcoming the directive and joking that it offered a convenient excuse to avoid the often costly displays.

Kenya joins a growing list of African countries clamping down on the creative misuse of currency.

In Nigeria, authorities have intensified enforcement against the traditional practice of “spraying” money at social events, leading to the arrest of several high-profile individuals for tampering with the Naira.

In Ghana, officials have also warned against the use of “money cakes,” stressing that the Cedi was state property and must be handled responsibly.

As a leading global exporter of flowers, many Kenyans have welcomed the CBK’s stance, suggesting that real roses—not rolled-up banknotes—remained the most fitting gift ahead of Valentine’s Day on February 14.

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