This archive report was first published on 4 October 2019.
Four months after the introduction of new generation banknotes, the Central Bank of Kenya has warned Kenyans to handle the currency properly to prevent ageing.
The warning comes after members of the public started raising questions about the durability of the sleek new currency.
According to the Central Bank of Kenya, the new banknotes have undergone a 'rough initiation' in the first few months.
"In the first few months, our new banknotes are going through a rather rough 'initiation'. But we hope that Kenyans will handle the currency properly," said the Central Bank of Kenya in a Twitter post on October 2, 2019.
The bank also announced the successful completion of the demonetization of the older series Sh1000 notes, rendering 7,386,000 pieces of the older notes worthless.
Some Kenyans have taken to Twitter to express their concerns and frustrations with the quality of the new currency notes.
"Don't you know Kenyans? One of the best way for them to differentiate fake currency from real ones is by taking the note though a 'crumble test'!" tweeted Valentine Obara on October 2, 2019.
Others have expressed disappointment with the quality of the new currency notes, with some even suggesting that they may need to be reprinted.
