CBK Announces Tender for Destruction of 281,000 Kilos of Old Coins 

The Central Bank of Kenya had announced its plan to destroy 281 tonnes of unserviceable coins held at its offices across the country.

In a tender notice published in December 2025, CBK revealed that it intends to sell the coin to smelters and coin minters for destruction.

The coins, which are being sold at approximately Ksh6 million, are held in CBK offices in Nairobi, Mombasa, and Kisumu, with the largest quantity of the coins being located in Mombasa (196,373 kilograms).

76,347 kilograms are located in Nairobi, and 8,947 kilograms are located in Kisumu.

Despite selling the coins, CBK noted that the coins will be destroyed under the close supervision of its officials.

"Bidder to indicate how long it will take to smelt the coins after the consignment is surrendered to them. A team from CBK shall be invited to witness the starting of smelting/destruction of the coins," CBK noted in the tender document.

"Bidders must provide evidence of previous or similar work done by the company in the last ten years by providing a schedule of tonnage smelted in the last 12 months."

‍CBK has also blocked its employees, committee members, board members, and their spouses, children, parents, and siblings from participating in the tender.

Interested smelters have to submit their bids by Thursday,  January 22, 2026, at 10 am.

As of June 2025, the CBK held coins worth Ksh11.37 billion, with the bulk concentrated in the Ksh20, Ksh10, and Ksh5 denominations.

Ksh20 coins formed the largest share at Ksh4 billion, followed by Ksh10 coins valued at Ksh4.02 billion, while Ksh5 coins accounted for Ksh1.95 billion.

Meanwhile, the regulator is also looking for suppliers of coins. In the tender, also readvertised in December 2025, CBK is seeking an experienced firm that has supplied coins to other countries.