Kenya’s financial regulator has sounded a cautionary note as Valentine’s Day approaches, warning against the growing trend of creating cash flower bouquets and other celebratory displays using Kenyan Shilling banknotes.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, 2 February 2026, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) acknowledged that while there is nothing inherently wrong with giving cash as a gift, altering, damaging or defacing currency notes in the process of making decorative arrangements compromises their integrity and
renders them unfit for circulation.
The regulator emphasised that notes folded, rolled, glued, pinned or stapled into bouquet-like créations are more likely to be rejected by cash-handling and processing machines, leading to unnecessary replacement costs and operational challenges for ATMs and counting equipment.
The CBK underscored the importance of preserving the condition of currency so it can continue to function as a medium of exchange, unit of account and store of value, and urged people to find alternative ways of presenting monetary gifts that do not impair the notes.
The advisory comes amid increasing popularity of such cash bouquets ahead of Valentine’s Day on 14 February and reflects broader efforts to safeguard the quality and usability of Kenya’s banknotes.