President Uhuru Kenyatta along with Central Bank Governor Patrick Njoroge on Madaraka Day launched Kenya's new generation banknotes that adhere to the standards outlined by the 2010 Constitution.
The new notes have specialized features that will help in distinguishing the real notes from the fakes with three of these features being elements one will be able to feel by touching.
On the face of each note, one should be able to feel the value of the note, the word Kenya and raised bars at the left border of the note, all embossed.
For a Sh50 note, there should be one raised bar, a Sh100 note should have two, Sh200 should have three and Sh500 and Sh1000 notes should have four and five respectively.
Watermark and security thread in new Kenyan banknotes
The new notes have maintained the lion watermark that should be visible from the front and the back of the note.
The security thread that was present in the old notes was also maintained but enhanced with a slight difference in colour. When held at an angle or tilted, the security thread should change colour from red to green on all notes.
The thread for Sh200, Sh500 and Sh1000 notes should have additional horizontal lines in rainbow colours for Sh50 and Sh100 notes they should remain diagonal and in green for an authentic note.
An all new golden band has also been introduced as the only security feature unique to the back of all the notes.
The diagonal line on a genuine note should display the value of the note at hand.
Image of Jomo Kenyatta statue on new Kenyan banknotes
The image of founding President Jomo Kenyatta's monument alongside KICC that is present on all the notes has sparked discontent among Kenyans.
Politicians went as far as demanding a recall of the notes that are already in circulation to remove the portrait.
Constitution experts have also raised concerns with the directive that all old Sh1,000 notes will cease to be legal tender from October 1, 2019.