High Court makes final ruling on Mzee Kenyatta portrait in new currency notes

The High Court ruled that the portrait of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta statue on the new currency notes is legal.

This ruling was made on Friday when the judge stated that the statue of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta is not a portrait but a part of the KICC.

Activist Okiya Omtata and EALA MP Simon Mbugua had separately filed petitions contesting the image of a statue of President Jomo.

The petitions termed the image of a statue of Mzee Kenyatta on the new bank currency notes as a violation of the Constitution and wanted it removed.

According to the petitioners, although Kenyatta’s portrait is captured as a part of KICC, it is a representation of the former President's image, whose inclusion is illegal.

Sneaking new law

Omtatah sued Attorney General Kihara Kariuki for publishing new laws to regulate the circulation of the new currencies.

The activist stated that the AG had sneaked in the new law after realising that the Central Bank of Kenya illegally introduced the new generation currencies.

He urged the court to suspend a legal notice published by the AG, pending the determination of his suit over the new currencies.

During the Friday ruling, the court also declined to extend the expiry date of old Ksh1,000 notes.