Why is romance suddenly costing Kenyan men a crash course in US dollars and euros? What was once a simple gift for Valentine’s Day has moved to a money bouquet made from Kenyan notes, and now it requires trips to banks and forex bureaus in search of crisp dollar and euro notes.
No one anticipated talking about foreign currencies and conversion rates in the same sentence as love this Valentine’s Day.
Cash bouquets, created by folding or rolling currency to resemble tightly packed flowers, have in recent years become a popular gifting option for birthdays, graduations and especially Valentine’s Day. The trend has been amplified by celebrities and social media influencers who frequently showcase such grand gestures online.
While the CBK caution has not stopped demand entirely, it has pushed some to explore alternatives, including using foreign currencies such as US dollars or euros instead of Kenyan shillings.
However, it emerges that even though the CBK focused on Kenya shillings in its notice, the Penal Code it cited applies to any country’s legal tender. As per chapter 36 of the Penal Code, any currency in Kenya or of a foreign sovereign or state is still protected against mutilation, defacing, cutting and tearing.
A number of Ksh 50 notes used to create a money bouquet and red roses pictured at Jo's Florist Studio at Olympic House in Nairobi on January 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation
The bid to acquire foreign currency is fraught with challenges. Some men are now calling friends in search of foreign currency, while others are heading to banks or forex bureaus to exchange shillings. Even then, availability is not always guaranteed.
This writer posed as a customer at several forex exchange bureaus along Kenyatta Avenue, Kimathi Street and Kaunda Street in Nairobi, specifically requesting crisp dollar notes suitable for bouquet presentation. Most bureaus indicated they currently had older or less-crisp notes in circulation, explaining that new notes are not always readily available.
Wherewithal is another hurdle. A large bouquet requires multiple foreign-currency notes, meaning a significant amount of Kenyan shillings must first be exchanged. At the time of the visits, the dollar was trading at about Sh129 in the sampled bureaus, pushing the overall cost higher for those seeking elaborate arrangements.
Florists say they are also adjusting to the new reality. Many report that most cash bouquet clients are men, particularly around Valentine’s season, with customers either bringing foreign currency themselves or asking florists to source it on their behalf, usually at an additional service cost.
Joan Momanyi, the owner of Jo’s Florists in Nairobi, says requests for foreign-currency money bouquets did not start after the CBK directive but have been part of her business for some time.
“It’s not something that began because of the CBK statement. There have always been clients who preferred foreign currency, especially dollars,” she says, noting that the largest foreign-currency bouquet she has handled was valued at about $800.
Ms Momanyi attributes the steady access to dollars partly to her shop’s location near City Market, an area frequented by tourists. She also notes that bouquet pricing is pegged to the Kenyan shilling value regardless of the currency used.
“A Sh10,000 bouquet is the same, whether it’s done in Kenyan shillings or converted to dollars,” she explains.
Money used to make the money bouquet pictured at Jo's Florist Studio at Olympic House in Nairobi on January 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation
Still, sourcing presentable notes can sometimes be challenging. She says forex bureaus occasionally issue older notes since the currency is not printed locally, though they are generally still usable for bouquet arrangements. Exchange rates at bureaus, she adds, are often more favourable than those offered by banks.
Naomi of Calyx Flowers KE says she noticed a shift in customer inquiries shortly after the CBK advisory, with some clients opting for foreign currency to avoid possible damage to Kenyan notes.
“Since the CBK directive came in, some customers have started asking about money bouquets made using foreign currency, especially US dollars,” she says, adding that she usually discourages very small denominations because some forex bureaus either reject them or offer poor exchange value.
She recalls handling a foreign-currency bouquet worth about $1,000 for a birthday surprise. Still, she emphasises that Kenyan shilling bouquets remain viable if handled carefully.
“It’s not a ban on money bouquets; it’s more about how the bouquets are designed so the notes are protected,” she says.
According to Naomi, customer behaviour has shifted rather than declined. Some orders have been delayed due to uncertainty about compliance, while others now view dollar bouquets as a premium gifting option.
“Customers are asking more questions now, about compliance, how the notes will be handled and whether it’s safe. There’s definitely more consultation before orders are confirmed,” she says.
She also notes that while forex bureaus sometimes issue slightly aged notes, many are willing to exchange them for cleaner ones on request. Exchange rates at bureaus can also be more flexible, particularly when larger sums are involved, though she says there are rarely special perks specifically for florists.
Economist Ken Gichinga, the Chief Economist at Mentoria Economics, says decorative use of currency is unlikely to significantly affect currency markets but still raises practical concerns.
A number of Sh50 notes used to make a money bouquet are pictured at Jo's Florist Studio at Olympic House in Nairobi on January 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation
“Extensive and continuous taping of notes can cause wear and tear, thereby reducing the acceptability of the note,” he says, noting that currency’s primary role is to facilitate exchange. “If a seller is uncomfortable receiving a torn note, that economic transaction may not take place.”
Gichinga downplays broader foreign-exchange implications from the shift to dollars or euros, saying the sums involved are generally modest. He, however, cautions against repurposing currency unnecessarily.
“It is still not prudent to give those notes any other purpose other than the economic functions they are meant to serve,” he says, describing the trend largely as conspicuous consumption influenced partly by West African gifting traditions.
Legal considerations also arise internationally. For example, American law under Section 333 of the Criminal Code prohibits mutilating or defacing banknotes with intent to render them unfit for circulation, reflecting global concerns about preserving currency integrity.
At the CBK, officials familiar with the matter said the goal of speaking against cash bouquets was to preserve currency integrity rather than restricting creative gifting altogether.
