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Leftover Currency has recently added Kenyan Shillings to the growing list of currencies exchangeable on our website. We currently exchange over 153 different currencies and our goal is to exchange coins and banknotes from all nations.
The Official Currency of Kenya
Kenya is a nation steeped with rich cultural history and an abundance of wildlife, making it a popular tourist destination.
The official currency, issued by the Central Bank of Kenya, is the Kenyan Shilling. Banknotes come in denominations of 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 Kenyan Shillings. Kenyan Shilling Coins are divided into denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20 and 40.
Kenyan Shillings: A New Generation of Banknotes
In 2019 the Central Bank of Kenya unveiled a new generation of banknotes. Previous designs of the banknotes featured Presidents of the nation. However, the country’s Government Ministers have been surrounded by controversy, with many citizens advocating the removal of all political figures from Kenya’s banknotes.
After taking account of the views of the public, modern Kenyan Shilling notes do not feature people. The new Shillings instead celebrate Kenya’s rich cultural heritage.
The Governor of Kenya stated that the notes ‘serve as a means of passing knowledge, conserving culture and promoting global uniqueness.’
Each Kenyan Shilling banknote has a unique theme which is presented as the drivers of a newly reborn and prosperous Kenya.
50 Kenyan Shillings: Theme of green energy. The reverse of the note features Wind Power, Geothermal Power and Solar Power.
100 Kenyan Shillings: Theme of agriculture. This banknote represents the nation’s strength in the agricultural sector, featuring crops and livestock.
200 Kenyan Shillings: Theme of social services. This note features the country’s teachers, doctors and athletes.
500 Kenyan Shillings: Theme of tourism. The back of this bill features Kenya’s wildlife reserve. The nation is home to one of the most highly acclaimed parks in the world, the Maasai Mara.
1,000 Kenyan Shillings: Theme of governance. The reverse side of this bill features Nairobi’s Parliament building.
Do you have leftover Kenyan Shilling banknotes from your recent travels?
Get started here: exchange your Kenyan Shilling banknotes.
New Generation Kenyan Shilling Coins
The Central Bank of Kenya issued a new coin series in 2018. These Kenyan Shilling coins exchanged the use of portraits of Kenya’s presidents for native wildlife.
The new coins have aspects that best describe the Republic of Kenya and pay homage to the importance in protecting the nation’s wildlife.
Kenya’s new 1, 5, 10 and 20 Shilling coins feature illustrations of a giraffe, rhino, lion and an elephant on the reverse, with the Kenyan Coat of arms on the obverse.
Do you have leftover Kenyan Shilling coins from your recent holiday?
Get started here: exchange your Kenyan Shilling coins.
Are my old Kenyan Shilling banknotes still exchangeable?
In 2019 the Central Bank of Kenya removed the highest denomination banknote of 1000 Kenyan Shillings from circulation. This was in a bid to fight against money laundering and counterfeits that were affecting the nation of Kenya.
These old style 1000 Kenyan Shilling notes have ceased to be legal tender. Unlike the lower denominations of withdrawn Kenyan Shillings bills, the exchange deadline for these 1000 Shilingi notes has now expired.
These 1000 Kenyan Shilling banknotes no longer have monetary value. However at Leftover Currency we continue to exchange these demonetised bills for an exchange rate that covers their collectible value.
Get started here: exchange your 1000 Kenyan Shilling banknotes.
Can I exchange my withdrawn Kenyan Shilling banknotes?
Since the introduction of the more modern Kenyan Shilling banknotes in 2019, these withdrawn Kenyan Shilling bills are no longer a valid means of payment within the nation of Kenya.
At Leftover Currency we continue to exchange withdrawn Kenyan Shilling banknotes indefinitely.
Get started here: exchange your withdrawn Kenyan Shilling banknotes.
What currencies would you like to see next on the Leftover Currency website?
We are always looking to add more currencies to the Leftover Currency website in the future. Have your say and let us know which currencies you would like to see next!