- The Central Bank of Kenya invited bids from local and international companies for the supply of currency coins
- The bank explained the bidding process and set a deadline for bidders to submit their prequalification documents
- This came amid speculations that the bank planned to release a KSh 5,000 banknote, though it had yet to issue a statement
TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto has over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.
The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has advertised an open international tender for the supply of currency coins.
Source: Twitter
In a notice on Thursday, November 20, the banking regulator asked eligible bidders to submit their bids by Thursday, December 11, 2025.
What is the bidding process for CBK currency?
The bank asked bidders to contact it via the email address [email protected].
It asked bidders to download the prequalification document from its website.
“The Central Bank of Kenya invites eligible suppliers of currency coins to participate in the following international open tender: Prequalification of suppliers for the minting and supply of currency coins for the Central Bank of Kenya.
Interested eligible candidates may visit the CBK website to download the prequalification document and obtain further information,” the notice in the Daily Nation by the deputy director, head of procurement read.
The CBK’s head office, located on Haile Selassie Avenue in Nairobi, will host the tender opening in the conference room on the sixth floor in the presence of the candidates or their representatives.
The bank said that all pages of the prequalification document, including any addenda, appendices, and attachments, must be serialised by candidates.
Will Kenya introduce a KSh 5,000 note?
Kenyans are widely debating speculations shared on social media that a KSh 5,000 note would be issued by the CBK.
Source: Twitter
The CBK had not yet released a statement at the time this article was published
A spot check by TUKO.co.ke on its social media platforms and website indicated that the bank had not released a comment regarding the launch of a KSh 5,000 banknote as of Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Netizens opposed the proposed note for a variety of reasons, including inflation, the flow of illegal money, and possible economic harm.
Which banknotes did the CBK introduce?
In 2024, the CBK released new KSh 50, KSh 100, KSh 200, KSh 500, and KSh 1,000 notes, featuring additional security features.
CBK made it clear that all banknotes currently in use remain legal currency and will continue to be used alongside the new ones.
The new notes bear the signatures of Treasury PS Chris Kiptoo and CBK governor Kamau Thugge.
What is the value of the shilling against the US dollar?
In related news, the Kenyan shilling weakened against the US dollar after a long period of stability.
This came after the supply of US dollars declined in the local market on Friday, November 14.
The local currency exchanged at 129.89 against the greenback on Wednesday, November 19, as per the official CBK rate.
This put an end to five months during which the shilling had remained stable at KSh129.23 to KSh129.26 per unit against the dollar.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
