ODM lawmakers clash on use of Jomo Kenyatta's image on new notes

Debate on the use of portrait of the founding president Mzee Jomo Kenyatta on the new Kenyan currency notes has now taken a political turn with leaders from both sides of the political divide weighing in on the matter.

Whereas a section of the politicians feel design of the notes did not fully comply with the Constitution because of the presence of Mzee Kenyatta's image, others found the raging debate around the portrait outrightly absurd.

Appearing on Citizen TV on Tuesday, June 4, Homa Bay woman representative, a senior member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Gladys Wanga pointed out the image that was being talked about is in fact a sculpture on the iconic Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).

"This issue has to be the most frivolous of all arguments...Should we go and curve out the sculpture of the founding father (Jomo Kenyatta) out of KICC for it (the new currency) to pass? Let us not trivialise this debate on the new currency," she said.

The outspoken Opposition lawmaker added the new notes will bring about a positive impact on the country's economy.

"The new currency will finally have a good effect on our economy because there are people stashing money in their homes. People have been complaining a lot about money not circulating; there has been scarcity ," she explained.

Wanga's sentiments were echoed by Nairobi County Assembly Speaker Beatrice Elachi and her Uasin Gishu counterpart Gladys Shollei and others who also held that the debate on new currency was being stretched too far.

"What I do not understand is the problem people have with our founding father which is now a portrait. Kenyatta never enforced himself on us!" Elachi posited.

I think we are taking interpretations and becoming too litigious for no reason. The reason why we have crisis in the judiciary is because they take up any case even when it is not justiciable," Shollei added in reaction to the petitions recently filed in court to challenge legality of the new notes.