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The Central Bank of Kenya began printing Kenyan banknotes in 1966 under the mandate given in the Central Bank of Kenya Act cap 491. The initial issue of Kenya shilling notes were in the denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 shillings, all bearing the portrait of the First President of Kenya, H.E. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in the front, and diverse scenes of economic activities in Kenya at the back. In 1979, following the death of H.E. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and the subsequent inauguration of H.E Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi as the second President of the Republic of Kenya, new notes and coins with new security features were issued to commemorate the events and usher in a new era by including the President’s portrait. Current generation of Kenyan banknotes all have the portrait of the First President of Kenya, the Late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. They range in the denominations 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 shillings.
Denomination Obverse Reverse
KShs. 50
Fifty Shillings

Size: 138mm x 72mm
Colour: Brown and Green
Potrait: The First President of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
Theme: Mombasa Tusks and Nomads with Camels
KShs. 100
Hundred Shillings

Size: 141mm x 74mm Colour: Purple Potrait: The First President of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
Theme: Kenyatta International Conference Centre and the Statue of Kenya’s founding President
KShs. 200
Two Hundred Shillings

Size: 144mm x 76mm Colour: Brown Green
Potrait:
The First President of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
Theme: Cotton picking
KShs. 500
Five Hundred Shillings

Size: 147mm x 78mm
Colour: Multi Colour Black Red and Green
Potrait: The First President of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
Theme: Kenya’s National Assembly
KShs. 1000
Thousand Shillings

Size: 150mm x 80mm
Colour: Brown
Potrait: The First President of Kenya Mzee Jomo Kenyatta
Theme: Grazing Herd of Elephants