What to spend your shillings on
A cocktail in Nairobi
400 KES
A bus journey from Nairobi to Mombasa
1,100 KES
Three-course meal for two in Nairobi
2,500 KES
An afternoon of scuba diving at the Mombasa Marine National Park
11,480 KES
Overnight private safari
40,282 KES
Shelling out your shillings
Kenyan shillings first began circulating in 1966 to replace East African shillings, which were completely demonetised three years later in 1969. When requesting bank notes, it is advised to ask for smaller denominations as you may struggle to get change from larger notes.
Many Kenyans rely on tips to help subsidise their income and will really appreciate a token gratuity – just don’t expect any change back when you leave your tip!
Frequently used banknotes and coins
Kenyan shillings are available in five different note formats; 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 KES. They all feature an image of Kenya’s first prime minister and president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Buying Kenyan Shillings online is easy
Free next-day home delivery on orders over £500