Catalog
10 Shillings Western numerals only
| Issuer | Banki Kuu ya Kenya / Central Bank of Kenya |
|---|---|
| Year | 1969-1974 |
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| Currency | Shilling (1966-date) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | 10 BANK KUU YA KENYA CENTRAL BANK OF KENYA LEGAL TENDER FOR TEN SHILLINGS SHILINGI KUMI TEN SHILLINGS THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF KENYA MZEE JOMO KENYATTA FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Translation: Central Bank of Kenya Ten shillings) |
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| Signature(s) | Duncan Ndegwa / Gevau Duncan Ndegwa Duncan Ndegwa Duncan Ndegwa |
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| Comments |
Kenya's first post-independence banknotes were issued in 1966, replacing East African Currency Board notes that had circulated across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as a shared regional currency. The 10 Shillings was the workhorse denomination of that early series, and Bradbury Wilkinson — a firm with deep roots in colonial-era currency production across British Africa — was the natural choice for the contract.
The "Western numerals only" designation distinguishes this type from later issues that incorporated East African numerals, a small but deliberate shift reflecting evolving decisions about accessibility and national identity in the note's typography. Duncan Ndegwa served as CBK Governor from 1967 to 1982, accounting for his signature appearing across the full span of this issue.