Rwanda joins Kenya in a crackdown on the decorative destruction of currency, warning that turning banknotes into Valentine’s gifts is a criminal offense.

The romantic gesture of gifting a "money bouquet" has officially been declared an enemy of the state in East Africa. In a coordinated move to protect the integrity of their national currencies, the National Bank of Rwanda (NBR) has joined the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) in issuing a stern warning: stop turning legal tender into decorative art, or face the full force of the law.

The High Cost of Romance

The trend, popularized by social media influencers and fueled by the approaching Valentine’s Day, involves folding, gluing, pinning, and taping banknotes to create elaborate floral arrangements. While visually striking, regulators argue this practice creates a logistical nightmare. The NBR’s public notice was unequivocal, stating that such handling "compromises the integrity of the Rwandan Franc," rendering the notes useless for automated teller machines (ATMs) and cash counters.

This is not merely a scolding; it is a legal threat. In Rwanda, willfully defacing currency is punishable under Law N° 68/2018, while in Kenya, similar offenses can attract a prison term of up to seven years. The central banks are effectively criminalizing a popular social trend to save the public purse from the "avoidable costs" of printing replacement notes.

• The Damage: Adhesives and pins destroy the security features of the notes, making them impossible to process mechanically.
• The Law: Both nations have cited specific penal codes that classify the mutilation of currency as a serious offense.
• The Context: The crackdown comes as digital payments rise, yet cash remains the lifeblood of the informal economy in the region.

A Regional Crackdown

The timing of the Rwandan notice, coming just days after the CBK’s February 2nd alert, suggests a regional consensus on monetary discipline. The CBK’s warning specifically targeted the "growing trend" of cash bouquets, highlighting how the practice disrupts the smooth circulation of money. For the florists and gift stylists in Nairobi and Kigali, the message is clear: the customer is not always right, especially when the customer wants to glue the King’s face to a stem.

As the crackdown intensifies, the message to lovers in East Africa is simple. Say it with flowers, say it with chocolate, but if you say it with cash, keep it in an envelope—or risk celebrating Valentine’s Day behind bars.