In a fresh nationwide push to boost cash circulation, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has officially kicked off a renewed awareness drive aptly dubbed ‘Chomoa Coins’, calling on Kenyans to bring out coins hoarded in their homes, drawers, piggy banks, handbags, and even car compartments and put them back into active use.
Through this campaign, CBK is sounding the alarm on a silent currency crisis: millions of shillings in coins lying idle across the country, out of reach of retailers, matatus, and other sectors that depend on small denominations for daily transactions.
“Every coin counts,” said CBK in a public advisory. “We are encouraging members of the public to either deposit the coins at their respective banks or spend them on everyday purchases such as groceries, matatu fare, or shopping at your local supermarket.”
CBK further emphasised that coins remain legal tender and should not be treated as dead weight or forgotten change. Instead, they should continue circulating through the economy to support seamless transactions, especially in lower-income sectors where coins are essential for small purchases and accurate change.
Retailers, supermarket chains, and public transport operators have also been urged to accept and utilise coins instead of turning customers away or rounding off prices unfairly. CBK assured businesses that financial institutions remain ready and willing to process large volumes of coin deposits without restrictions.
This isn’t the first time CBK has rallied Kenyans to loosen their grip on loose change. But with inflation biting, digital payments on the rise, and an apparent shortage of small currency in physical circulation, the ‘Chomoa Coins’ campaign feels more urgent and timely than ever.
So, before you ignore that pile of coins sitting in a forgotten tin in your house, remember: Kenya’s economy needs it moving. That loose change? It could be someone’s bus fare, lunch money, or a parent’s ticket to their next hustle.
CBK’s message is simple, clear, and clever, Chomoa coins. Spend them. Deposit them. Let them flow.
