Activist Okiya Omtatah in Court to Challenge Inclusion of Kenyatta Image on New Banknotes

Kenyan activist Okiya Omtatah has filed a petition challenging the new banknotes unveiled by President Kenyatta during Madaraka Day celebrations on Saturday.

In his petition, Omtatah argues that the inclusion of Kenya's first President Jomo Kenyatta’s image on the new currency notes violates Article 231(4) of the Constitution.

He further notes that there was no public participation on the design of the new generation notes as the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) claims.

Omtatah also submits that the demonetization of the old Sh1,000 notes after October 1st, 2019 is not backed by any law.

“It is a lie that the currency was issued vide the Gazette Notice of 31st May 2019 as no such gazette notice exists at the Government Printer. A copy of The Kenya Gazette Published on 31st May 2019 does not contain a notice issuing the currency,” says Omtatah.

He asserts that each of the new Kenyan banknotes bears a prominently displayed portrait of the late President Kenyatta contrary to Article 231(4) of the Constitution, which states that Kenyan currency bank notes shall not bear the portrait of any individual.

He accuses the CBK of using the image of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) to sneak the portrait of Jomo Kenyatta on the new currency.

Earlier, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Simon Mbugua also filed a petition seeking the removal of CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge from office.

In his petition, Mbugua accuses Njoroge of flouting the law in the unveiling of the new currency notes, citing lack of public participation.