In a move that has sent shockwaves through Nairobi’s florist industry but brought a sigh of relief to boyfriends nationwide, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has officially declared war on “money bouquets.”
The regulator warned on Monday, February 2, 2026, that the practice of folding, stapling, or gluing banknotes into floral arrangements is a criminal offense.
While the “romantic” trend has dominated social media for years, the CBK is no longer amused, citing Section 367 of the Penal Code.
Anyone caught defacing the Shilling faces a fine, a three-month prison sentence, or both.
Wasting no time, Kenya’s king of satire, Njugush (Timothy Kimani), released a viral skit that has resonated with thousands.
In the video, Njugush plays a man “shattered” by the news that his plans to impress his partner with a cash-filled bouquet have been “thwarted” by the government.
However, the comedy lies in the subtext: the ban is the ultimate “get out of jail free card” for men facing the financial pressure of an increasingly extravagant Valentine’s Day.
“The CBK has saved me!” one user commented. ”
I was about to go into debt to buy a bouquet of 1,000-shilling notes. Now, I can just tell my girl it’s a crime and buy her a single rose instead.”
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According to the CBK, the trend isn’t just a display of wealth; it’s a logistical nightmare. The glue and staples used to create the bouquets damage the security features of the notes and cause them to clog ATMs when they are eventually deposited.
The comedian and his followers have already pivoted to “legal” alternatives. Instead of risking a stint in a cold cell for a “folded flower,” Njugush hilariously suggested that men return to the safety of M-Pesa transfers.
Digital cash, it seems, is the only “bouquet” the government won’t be seizing this February 14.
