As Valentine’s Day pressure mounts, many Kenyan men are quietly celebrating after the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) stepped in to tame the runaway trend of flashy money bouquets that has been bleeding wallets in the name of romance.
For years, social media has been awash with images of men splashing tens and even hundreds of thousands of shillings on cash flower bouquets to outdo rivals and impress partners. But CBK’s latest warning against the defacement and misuse of currency has now given financially stretched men what some are calling a legal escape route from Valentine’s extravagance.
In its public notice, CBK cautioned that folding, gluing, pinning or stapling banknotes into decorative arrangements is illegal and punishable under Section 367 of the Penal Code—a move that has sparked mixed reactions online.
While some women and event stylists expressed outrage, many men took to social media to celebrate the intervention, joking that the regulator had “saved marriages and bank accounts” at a time when the cost of living continues to soar.
“CBK has spoken. Envelope it is,” joked one X user, while another quipped, “At last, Valentine’s is back to flowers and chocolate—no more financial intimidation.”
CBK maintained that it has no issue with gifting cash, as long as the notes remain intact and fit for circulation, urging lovers to opt for envelopes, gift boxes or digital transfers instead of elaborate cash displays.
As the Valentine’s countdown continues, the battle lines are now clear:
While lovers debate romance, many Kenyan men are cheering CBK for restoring sanity—and saving them from Valentine’s financial pressure.
