Kenyan currency.[Photo/hapakenya]
The Republican Liberty Party now wants parliament to amend the Constitution to allow notes and coins to be issued by the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to bear the portrait of the first president.
According to the political party, the front should have the image of the first president while the back of the notes should bear the image of the national parliament. According to the party, the coins will bear the image of the coat of arms.
In a petition submitted to the National Assembly, the party wants legislators to carry out the amendments to use the parliamentary initiative as opposed to the popular initiative and referendum on grounds that it does not honor provisions of article 255(1) of the Constitution.
The party argued that the portrait of the first president and founding father of independent Kenya meet the exclusivity standard to depict or symbolize Kenya or an aspect of Kenya.
In the petition, the party said the amendment would cure the mischief borne in the current frame, which they said, goes against the desire of the drafters of the constitution.
Currently, as constituted, the Constitution provides that notes and coins issued by CBK bear images that depict or symbolize Kenya or an aspect of Kenya but shall not bear the portrait of any individual.
“The face of the notes and coins issued by CBK shall bear the portrait of the first president of the Republic of Kenya while the back of the notes shall bear the image of the national parliament and the coins shall bear the image of the coat of arms,” reads the amendment.