  |
Serving
Students at
Santa Ana
College and
Santiago
Canyon College
KENYA
Currency
|
TRAVEL
EXCHANGE
CURRENCY
EXCHANGE
CURRENCY
CONVERTER
Currency
Monetary
Unit: 1 Kenya pound = 20 Kenya shillings; 1 Kenya shilling (KSh)
= 100 cents.
The shilling
comes in paper currency of Sh. 5, Sh.10, Sh. 20, Sh. 50 Sh. 100, Sh. 200
Sh. 500 and Sh. 1,000 notes. Coins are issued in 5, 10, 50, cents,
and 1, 5, and 10 Shilling units.
With the
freeing of foreign exchange regulations, the Kenya Shilling floats daily.
The Shilling has steadily appreciated against major hard currencies.
Visiting business executives should check the financial section of the
daily newspapers for the current exchange rate which could change radically
and quickly.
The place
to carry your money is in a pouch against your skin. Anything more
obvious will only make a thief's job easier.
Credit
Cards
International
major credit cards are usually accepted with proper identification such
as a passport.
travelers
checks
Traveler's
checks are usually accepted by banks and major hotels.
Currency
Exchange
Be aware
of the difference between exchange rates for travelers checks, cash, credit
cards and different currencies.
With the
deregulation of the money supply, foreign exchange bureaus are the best
places to change money; their rates are competitive and they don't charge
commission. Banks will change money, but their commission can be
steep. Go to either the central bank (in a major) city or local banks in
the smaller towns; the worst place to change money is in the airport banks.
Some of
the best rates you can get are taking out a cash advance on your credit
card. When paying for something with a credit card, you may find
that the rate they charged you was much better than the rate you could
get in a bank. Some cards offer a floating rate that holds for 30
days or so and actually gets one of the lower rates.
Currency
Restrictions
There
are strict limitations on the amount of Kenyan currency which may be taken
out of the country. It is sometimes difficult to exchange Shillings
for dollars upon departure.
Up to
100,000 Kenyan shillings may be taken out of the country. Destruction
of Kenyan currency, even in small amounts, is strictly against the law
and almost always results in arrest and a fine.
Banking
Hours
Banking
hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Costs
The cost
of budget accommodation, with communal showers and toilets, in Kenya is
very reasonable. The lower end of the Kenya experience could
be about U.S.$15-20 a day. Double this for comfortable travel and
expect to pay anything from US$25 to US$60 or more a day for a safari.
Every town has small cafes catering to local people where you can get a
traditional meal for under U.S.$5. For just a little bit more, Kenya's
Indian restaurants are great value.
Links
to More Information
Coins
..
|
