The High Court in Nairobi has quashed a petition by activist Okiya Omtatah seeking the removal of Kenyatta portrait on the new currency on grounds that CBK violated the constitution.
Omtatah accused the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) and its governor of violating article 231 (4) of the constitution, which prohibits the use of individual portraits on currency notes and coins.
Moreover, the activist argued that CBK omitted public participation when designing the new generation currency notes and coins in line with constitutional requirements.
However, in its ruling, the three-judge bench ruled that the case lacked merit. In addition, although the portrait appears larger than the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on the banknotes, it forms part of the building’s image.
In addition, the High Court said that CBK carried out extensive, reasonable, and all-inclusive participation, leading to the final design of the currency.
The High Court concluded that CBK had the power and discretion to set the period and withdraw the note.
