Activist Okiya Omtatah suffered a major blow in court as the High Court ruled that the founding father, Jomo Kenyatta's image will remain on the new notes.
A three-judge bench on Friday, September 7 ruled that Kenyatta's image was not a portrait but only part of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre statue.
Omtatah had asked the court to scrap off Kenyatta's image stating that Central Bank Governor, Patrick Njoroge had contravened Article 213 (4) of the constitution by releasing new notes with Kenyatta's image.
"Notes and coins issued by the Central Bank of Kenya may bear images that depict or symbolize Kenya or an aspect of Kenya but shall not bear the portrait of any individual," Omtatah had argued in his affidavit.
In June 2019, Njoroge defended the CBK's choice of including the sculpture of Jomo Kenyatta at Kenyatta International Conference Center on the new banknotes following outrage.
Many Kenyans had been disappointed by the new notes since they contained the statue of Kenya's founding president.
They argued that the constitution had outlawed the portrait of any of Kenya's presidents from being printed on the notes.
Njoroge dismissed the opposers explaining that they had missed the point since the focus was supposed to be the KICC building itself.
He further added that the new features were unique and that they could make it easier for visually impaired citizens to use the currency.
Omtatah rejected the court decision and declared that he was going to appeal against it.
"During the hearing, the presiding judge denied us the right of reply and did not also read our submission. We are going to appeal. The decision was politically instigated," Omtatah informed Kenyans.co.ke newsdesk.
Besides the iconic KICC building, the new notes contain images of the big five animals in the country.
