Mutua supports statue on notes

Governor Alfred Mutua has slammed critics of the new generation currency as he defended the use of Jomo Kenyatta’s statue on the notes.

The governor said the widespread excitement across the country arising from the recall of the old currency by the Central Bank of Kenya had been chocked by pre-mature debate over trivial issues of photos and statues.

Addressing wananchi after visiting Machakos retail market on an inspection tour of facilities, Mutua said the value of a currency was not what picture or colour it carried, but its purchasing power.

“What we have on the new notes is the statue of our founding father Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and there is absolutely nothing wrong,” he said.

He went on, “The people complaining would be okay if it was a statue of a lion or giraffe. Are those animals more important than the founding father and other heroes?”

Mutua said like founding fathers of other African nations, Mzee Kenyatta was in the history books as a hero who cannot be wished away.

“What we should be rooting for is, having different statues of our heroes such as Tom Mboya, Paul Ngei, Dedan Kimathi, Wangari Maathai and Oginga Odinga, on our notes” Mutua said.

Mutua, who has declared interest in the presidency come 2022 said problems facing Kenyans do not accord them the luxury of engaging in simplistic issues.

Activist Okiya Omtata and EALA MP Simon Mbugua have moved to court to challenge the new currency notes terming them illegal.