With Valentine’s Day just around the distance, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has issued a stern reminder that while love may be priceless, defacing the Shilling through trends like “money bouquets”comes with a heavy cost.
In a move aimed at cooling down the hottest-and now illegal—social media gifting trend, the regulator has officially intervened to stop the creation of “money bouquets.”
While these displays of wealth have become a staple of Kenyan celebrations, authorities have warned that the artistic folding and pinning of banknotes is no longer a romantic gesture, but a legal offense.
The evolution of this wealthy gesture did not actually start on local soil. Global trends indicate that the modern money bouquet first gained significant traction in Southeast Asia around 2015, specifically in nations like Vietnam and Thailand, before migrating through the Middle East to the West.
However, it wasn’t until early 2021 that the trend began to dominate Kenyan social media feeds, fueled by a post-pandemic desire for extravagant, “Instagrammable” displays of affection.
Consequently, what began as a niche luxury has rapidly evolved into a mainstream culture of competitive gifting.
In response to this surge, several high-end floral firms have built entire reputations on their intricate currency displays.
Renowned players such as Pinks & Blooms, famous for architectural structures using high-denomination notes, and The Flower Story Kenya, known for their “money roses,” have led the market alongside Aura Event Planners.
Nevertheless, the very craftsmanship that made these firms popular has now drawn the ire of the regulator. This is because the process of pinning, gluing, or folding banknotes into tight shapes reportedly damages security features and shortens the lifespan of the currency.
To protect the integrity of the national tender, the CBK issued a formal directive earlier this week emphasizing that banknotes are symbols of national sovereignty.
According to the official statement, the regulator noted: “The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has noted a growing trend where Kenya banknotes are being used to create floral arrangements, commonly known as ‘money bouquets,’ and other decorative items. Pursuant to Section 22 of the Central Bank of Kenya Act, the Bank is the sole issuer of currency and has the mandate to ensure the physical integrity of banknotes.”
The bank further clarified that such actions constitute “defacing of currency,” which is an offense punishable by law.
Beyond the legal technicalities, the regulator noted that the crackdown matters because of the “mutilation” of the Shilling.
According to CBK, when notes are stapled, taped or glued for a Valentine’s surprise, they often become unfit for automated teller machines (ATMs) and counting devices and as a result, the government is forced to incur unnecessary costs for the replacement and destruction of damaged notes.
Furthermore, the regulator is seeking to curb the “spraying” of money at events to maintain the dignity of the legal tender.
So if you were thinking of money bouquet as your partners’ Valentine’s Day present, you might want to reconsider your floral arrangements to avoid a date with the authorities.
The CBK is now urging all citizens, event planners, and florists to “desist from this practice and instead use alternative digital payment methods to gift their loved ones.”
It appears that this year, a simple bank transfer or a traditional bouquet of roses may be the only way to stay in your partner’s—and the law’s—good graces.