US Embassy to Accept New Currency

The US Embassy based in Nairobi will now accept payment of services through both the old and new currency. This is a reversal of an earlier decision that requested applicants to pay either using the old currency or via credit card.

On Wednesday, the Embassy through its Twitter handle had cited the need for establishing new procedures to accept the new currency as the reason for continuing the use of the old currency.

“The Government of Kenya has introduced new currency with plans for withdrawing all old currency from circulation by October 1, 2019. We are currently developing procedures to accept the new Kenyan shillings,” said the Embassy’s tweet.

“Until these procedures are in place, consular applicants will only be able to pay for services using the previous Kenyan shillings. You may also continue to pay by credit card.”

In a later tweet on the same day, however, the Embassy announced the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) provision of the training and equipment upgrades that are necessary for it to accept the new generation currency.

“After coordination with the Central Bank of Kenya, the U.S. Embassy has been provided the equipment upgrades and training necessary to accept the new Kenyan currency. We now accept the new currency as well as the legacy currency valid until October 1, 2019.”