Exchange damaged or torn Kenyan banknotes
Central Bank of Kenya · sources read 4 Oct 2026
Take a damaged or torn note to any commercial bank or a Central Bank of Kenya office to have it replaced. It must be genuine, not damaged on purpose, more than half and in one piece, with at least one full serial number.
- Fee
- We couldn't confirm a fee from the official page. Check it there before you pay.
- Where
- Any commercial bank, or a Central Bank of Kenya office: Head Office on Haile Selassie Avenue, Nairobi; branches in Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret; currency centres in Nyeri, Nakuru, Meru and Kisii
Steps
- Check the note: it must be genuine, more than half and in one continuous piece, and show at least one complete serial number.
- Take it to any commercial bank or to a Central Bank office and ask for it to be replaced.
- The Central Bank examines the notes and may ask you how they got damaged. Be ready to explain.
Watch out
- The Central Bank is not obliged to exchange damaged money, and notes damaged on purpose are not replaced.
- Fake notes are never exchanged for any value.
- Tearing, cutting or defacing a banknote on purpose is a crime: up to 3 months in jail, a fine of up to KSh 2,000, or both.
Who can apply
- Any member of the public who has damaged Kenyan notes or coins.
Official sources (2)
- Currency Services centralbank.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026
- Contact Us centralbank.go.ke · read 4 Oct 2026