As February 14 approaches, the pressure is on: who will receive roses, who will get chocolates, who will be surprised with a luxury car, and who will be handed the newest symbol of modern affection, the money bouquet.
In Kenya, where love is increasingly performed for the camera and the group chat, romance has found an unlikely accomplice in folded banknotes.
This year, however, Cupid’s arrows have been intercepted by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK), which has chosen the season of love to issue a decidedly unromantic warning.
In a public notice released on February 2, the regulator flagged the popular trend, warning that the decorative use of cash often leads to the mistreatment and physical destruction of legal tender.
What was meant to signal generosity, CBK argued, is quietly damaging the very currency meant to circulate freely in the economy.
The banking authority noted that an increasing number of people are turning banknotes into floral arrangements and artistic displays, a habit it said compromises the physical quality of money.
According to CBK, such practices not only spoil the banknotes but also create significant problems for machines and systems designed to handle and process cash efficiently.
“Such practices compromise the integrity of Kenya shilling banknotes and render them unsuitable for circulation,” CBK stated.
The regulator explained that many money bouquets involve folding, rolling, pinning or stapling notes together. The use of adhesives, tape, pins and staples can tear or stain the paper, leaving the currency damaged beyond use. Once a banknote becomes sticky, torn or perforated, it risks rejection by banks, shops and automated systems, effectively turning legal tender into waste.
“The use of adhesives, pins, staples and similar materials damages banknotes and interferes with the efficient operation of cash handling and processing equipment including automated teller machines, cash counting machines and sorting equipment,” the statement added.
CBK acknowledged that gifting cash is not illegal, but insisted that it must not involve actions that alter, deface or impair currency. Banknotes, it emphasised, should remain in a condition that allows them to function as a medium of exchange, a unit of account and a store of value.
The regulator further reminded the public that Section 367 of the Penal Code prohibits the defacement, mutilation or impairment of currency notes. Anyone who wilfully damages banknotes issued by lawful authority commits an offence under Kenyan law. Lovers, CBK advised, should find creative ways to impress their partners without turning money into decorative props.
CBK said it would continue public sensitisation and stakeholder engagement to protect the quality and usability of currency in circulation. Yet the timing of the announcement could hardly have been worse for florists and gift vendors who had already positioned themselves for the Valentine’s rush.
The Nairobian spoke to Wakesho Msaga, a money bouquet vendor and owner of Gifts Haven, who said the warning would have a direct and painful impact on her business. She expressed concern that many people had turned to money bouquets as a livelihood after long periods of unemployment.
“This is going to hit us hard, especially for newcomers who started this business just to make ends meet,” she said. “Even for those of us who have been doing it for a while, this is a major setback.”
Msaga explained that demand for money bouquets is largely driven by male customers seeking something more tangible than traditional flowers.
“Many clients don’t want roses alone. They feel money bouquets have real value. Changing that mindset will be very difficult for sellers and buyers alike.”
She added that assembling the bouquets requires significant labour and time, depending on the number and denomination of the notes. Addressing CBK’s concerns, Msaga said most vendors avoid destructive materials.
“I have personally never seen anyone use staples,” she said.
Many vendors had stocked supplies and promoted their services weeks in advance, anticipating a surge in orders. But the CBK notice has led to cancellations and uncertainty.
“I invested in skewers, tapes and other materials. And now I may incur losses,” Msaga said.
