The Sh1000 note continues to dominate Kenya’s cash economy, accounting for approximately 86 per cent of all banknotes currently in circulation. 
By Fredrick Kioko. The Sh1000 note continues to dominate Kenya’s cash economy, accounting for approximately 86 per cent of all banknotes currently in circulation, according to the latest data from the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).
CBK figures show that by December 2025, Sh1000 notes in circulation were valued at Sh335 billion, underscoring the denomination’s strong presence in the country’s financial transactions.
Other denominations make up a significantly smaller share of the cash supply. Sh100 notes worth Sh17 billion account for 4.5 per cent of notes in circulation, while Sh500 notes amounting to Sh16 billion represent 4.3 per cent.
Meanwhile, Sh200 notes in circulation stand at Sh13 billion, translating to 3.4 per cent, while Sh50 notes remain the least circulated, with a value of Sh6.6 billion, representing 1.8 per cent of the total cash in circulation.
The latest figures highlight the continued preference for higher-value currency notes in Kenya’s economy, particularly the widely used Sh1000 denomination.
