An official from the Central Bank of Kenya has refuted claims that the new Sh200 note has Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s image engraved on it.
“Kenyans on social media shouldn’t be too quick to speculate on something they cannot prove,” said the official who asked to remain anonymous.
“It is not true that the CBK used the Interior minister’s picture in the layout of the new generation Ksh200 note. Kenyans are sometimes quick to speculate on something they can’t even prove. For instance, at the time the rumours were circulating, no Kenyan had gotten hold of the new Ksh200 note. So, how could they prove that allegation? Media shouldn’t give coverage to such unfounded speculations,” he told Edaily.
This comes just days after Kenyans online claimed that Matiang’i’s image was on the new Sh200 legal tender note.
The image of the new Sh200 note that was doing rounds on social media allegedly showed an image of Matiang’i with school children in a classroom holding laptops.
However, a keen look at the new Sh200 note will show a big difference between the real picture where Matiang’i was with school children in class with laptops and the image on the note.
The image on the note shows children attentively looking at the laptop while the real picture of CS Matiang’i with school children in a classroom shows the students looking at him while smiling.
The new currency notes were launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta during the Madaraka Day Celebrations in Narok to curb the rise in counterfeit notes that sabotage Kenya’s economic development.