Two petitions contesting the constitutionality of new currency notes unveiled by the Central Bank of Kenya on June 1 have been referred to the Chief Justice for the composition of a bench.
Justice Weldon Korir who certified the petitions filed by East Africa Legislative Assembly lawmaker Simon Mbugua and activist Okiya Omtatah, said the petitioners raised weighty constitutional matters requiring determination by a bench.
The petitions are challenging inclusion of founding President Jomo Kenyatta’s statue in the new notes as a violation to Article 131 which disallows the inclusion of portraits of individuals in national currencies.
Also challenged is a move by the Central Bank to demonetize the Sh1,000 series notes by October 1, a move the petitioners have argued has no legal basis.
