To cover the full story of Kenya’s banknotes you have to go back to colonial days and the East Africa Protectorate. This was formed in 1895 and based in Mombasa, to take over the territory previously controlled by the British East Africa Company. This was effectively the land within the borders of modern Kenya plus the new Protectorate of Uganda added in 1902.
In 1905 the first-ever paper money in this part of Africa was issued by the Government of the East Africa Protectorate, for circulation in both Kenya and Uganda. The notes were designed and engraved by Thomas De La Rue, who retained responsibility for all but one of the East African and Kenyan issues – an unbroken period of 127 years. The first
