Sh1,000 notes containing the portrait of former President Jomo Kenyatta. [Photo: thebigissue.co.ke]The decision to have the images of former Presidents removed from Kenyan currencies as required by the Constitution now lies in the hands legislators.

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MPs upon resuming from recess mid next month are expected to decide on a petition presented to Parliament seeking to block the removal of the portraits through a constitutional amendment.

A political outfit, Republican Liberty Party (RLP), has petitioned National Assembly to amend Article 231 (4) of the Constitution which bars Kenyan currencies from bearing portraits of any person.

“Notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of Kenya may bear images that depict or symbolize Kenya or an aspect of Kenya but shall not bear the portrait of any individual,” reads Article 231 (4) of the Constitution.

RLP argues that the Article is 'repugnant and bad in law' while proposing that the founding father Jomo Kenyatta's portrait should be retained.

“The face of notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of Kenya shall bear the portrait of the first president of the republic of Kenya while the back for the notes shall bear the image of the National Parliament and the coins to bear the image of the Coat of Arms,” reads the petitioners' proposed amendment as quoted by the Star.

RLP officials accuse the drafters of the 2010 Constitution of being driven by mischief in having the portraits removed from currencies.

The petitioners' action comes at a time when activist Okiya Omtatah has sued CBK and its governor Patrick Njoroge for violating the Constitution by not issuing currencies without Kenyatta's image.

Omtatah wants the court to declare that CBK has violated the Constitution and be compelled to issue new currencies without an individual's portrait within six months.

New currencies were supposed to be rolled out within five years after the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.The new currencies are supposed to bear the Kenya's exclusive, attributable and unifying features such as wildlife among others.