Nasa strategist David Ndii has termed the move by CBK to use Mzee Kenyatta’s image on the new currency as sheer impunity and mischief. He claimed that this is a hallmark of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Ndii revealed that he was the one who drafted Chapter 12 of the new Constitution in which Kenyans agreed that no person deserves to be on the new currency.
I drafted Chapter12 of the Constitution. Kenyans debated but could not agree on which heroes deserved to be on the currency so they settled on none. The Kenyatta image offends that spirit. It is deliberate mischief, impunity and contempt for the people— the hallmarks of Uhuru.
— David Ndii (@DavidNdii) June 4, 2019
The Economist accused CBK of disrespecting the will of the people.
The use of Mzee Kenyatta’s image on all the new currency notes that were launched by CBK governor Patrick Njoroge has raised a huge storm. Already there are two petitions in court challenging the move.
Njoroge has maintained that minting of the new notes followed all the due constitutional process during a press briefing on Monday, it has continued to receive a lot of opposition.
Patrick Njoroge (CBK governor): We have followed all the applicable laws to get to this point and in terms of quality of the notes we have tried listening to the public.
We involved the public in the designs of the notes and various features on it pic.twitter.com/Yj2ZtHy192
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 3, 2019
ODM has been vocal on this matter with some of their top brains exposing the breach of the constitution. Rarieda MP Otiende Omollo insisting that the minting did not abide by the constitution. The same sentiments were also shared by Senator James Orengo.
Otiende Amollo: The major issue is the image of the new notes; Article 231 is very clear and does not allow anyone’s portrait on the face of the notes or coins.
The new notes show a clear representation of the founding father on all the notes which to me is wrong #DayBreak pic.twitter.com/8Z7nCt3U45
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) June 3, 2019
ODM Chair John Mbadi has also affirmed ODM’s stand stating that the statue of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta is non-constitutional.
John Mbadi: The party is not calling for recall of the notes that have been issued but the CBK should think of how to phase them out. #TheDailyBrief pic.twitter.com/DnAkeDzema
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 4, 2019
Due to numerous petitions, the High Court has directed CJ Maraga to form a three judge bench to look into the matter.
High Court has requested CJ Maraga to form a three-judge bench to hear cases seeking to stop issuance of new currency notes. #TheDailyBrief with @SamWNjoroge pic.twitter.com/2mkhAJ6Krh
— K24 TV (@K24Tv) June 4, 2019