A photo of an alleged new generation Sh50 note circulating on social media. [Photo/Peter Ngila]
The new-generation currency could be rolled out before the end of the year, the National Treasury has confirmed.
The Central Bank of Kenya is in the final stages of adding security features in the notes before the roll out.
National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich on Thursday said the bank has completed the designs of the currency and is in the process of procuring a printer.
"Central Bank is working on this, they are in the process of procuring the printer, and the design work has largely been completed, the feature is in its final stages and then proceeds to print," Rotich said, as quoted by The Star.
There has been widespread speculation on some of the purported leaked designs bearing images of the Big Five wild animals found in the country.
The leaked images showed that the Sh500 note will bear the image of a lion, Sh200 note the image of a rhino, Sh1,000 the image of an elephant and Sh100 note the image of a cheetah.
However, the Central Bank is yet to confirm the authenticity of these images.
Addressing a media briefing, the governor said the roll out of the new currency will be done in accordance with the Central Bank Act and other laws that govern the process.
"The issue is not transition, the issue is where do we end up, that is why we are very clear on how we want to see the new regime currency," Njoroge said.