The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) is a proud recipient of a global award for its new-generation notes at the regional forum for secure document technologies, the High Security Printing – Europe, Middle East and Africa (HSP-EMEA) Conference for 2025.
The award for the “Best New Series” went to CBK, which, in August 2024, released an updated series of the Kenyan shilling (KES), having taken steps to guarantee security of supply by procuring the new banknotes from Giesecke+Devrient after discontinuing its partnership with De La Rue.
The full series comprises Ksh1,000, Ksh500, Ksh200, Ksh100 and Ksh50 banknotes, with the same design as the notes they replace but with enhanced security features. These include Louisenthal’s RollingStar® i+ thread, which incorporates advanced technologies like micromirrors and colour-shifting pigments on each denomination.
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The three higher denominations, the Ksh1,000, Ksh500 and Ksh200, feature the ZigZag dynamic movement effect, which creates an illusion of alternating light and dark geometric figures moving from the centre to the periphery, while the two lower denominations, the Ksh100 and Ksh50, utilise the Crystal effect.
Additionally, the changes made to the banknotes include new signatures for the Governor and a Member, the year of print specified as 2024, and the use of iridescent bands with UV visibility under different lighting angles. Dual-colour fluorescence is also maintained as a secondary-level security element against counterfeiting.
While receiving the award, CBK Governor Dr Kamau Thugge remarked:
“This award places Kenya’s banknotes at the forefront in terms of appeal, security, and world-class status. By leveraging cutting-edge anti-counterfeiting measures, we are ensuring Kenyans can trust the integrity of their currency.”
The High Security Printing EMEA award ceremony took place on February 4, 2025, in Basel, Switzerland, and brought together key players in the security document industry, focusing on government-issued documents such as currency, fiduciary documents, excise stamps, ID cards, e-passports, visas, vehicle documents, and licences, with a particular emphasis on banknotes and emerging ID and travel document technologies.
To qualify for an award, nominated banknotes must have been issued to the public for the first time during the award year. Specimens and non-circulating currencies were ineligible. The notes also had to demonstrate artistic merit and/or innovative security features and be in general circulation.
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