Kenyan Printworks Bought by Local Firm

The Competition Authority of Kenya has officially authorised Monarch Capital – a leading investment firm in the country – to acquire 100% of the shares of De La Rue Currency and Security Print (K) Ltd – De La Rue’s former Kenyan banknote and security printworks. This was the last remaining stake left behind after De La Rue’s 2023 banknote printing exit and marks a move towards full ‘kenyanisation’ of banknote production.

De La Rue’s history with Kenya began in 1966, by printing the nation’s first banknotes immediately following the independence of the country.

In 1991, De La Rue took advantage of a Kenyan government initiative to promote the country as a centre for international trade and strategically invested in a modern facility to print banknotes and other security documents. A local state-of-the-art printing facility was opened in 1992 in Ruaraka, a suburb of Nairobi, to produce domestic currency under the name De La Rue Kenya EPZ Ltd. This facility was owned jointly between