Kenya’s central bank has warned the public against using banknotes for decorative purposes, including making cash flower bouquets and other ornamental displays.

In a public notice, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) said practices such as folding, gluing, stapling or pinning Kenya shilling notes cause damage to the currency and interfere with the operation of automated teller machines (ATMs) and cash-processing equipment.

The bank said damaged notes are often rejected during processing, forcing their early withdrawal from circulation and increasing replacement costs.

While the CBK acknowledged that giving cash as a gift is permitted, it stressed that banknotes should not be altered or defaced.

It added that Kenyan law prohibits the mutilation of currency and urged the public to handle notes with care to preserve their integrity.