Quick answer
KSh is the short form of Kenya shilling and is written before the amount, as in KSh 500, following the same English convention used for the pound and the dollar. KES is the international ISO 4217 code. The Kenya shilling has been issued by the Central Bank of Kenya since 1966 and is divided into 100 cents.
Updated 18 October 2026
Kenyans write prices as KSh 500, not 500 KSh. The letters are the short form of “Kenya shilling”, and putting them in front of the number follows the same English-language convention used for the pound (£5) and the dollar ($5). The country’s currency system came through the British colonial East African Currency Board, so it makes sense that the same style stuck. In international banking and on currency exchange screens, you will see KES instead. That is the three-letter ISO 4217 code for the Kenya shilling.
This guide explains the different ways the shilling is written, where the shilling came from, and which form to use in invoices, CVs and official documents.
KSh, Ksh, KES and /=: What Each One Means
| Form | What it is | Where you see it |
|---|---|---|
| KSh (or Ksh, Kshs) | Short form of Kenya shilling | Price tags, newspapers, invoices, government documents |
| KES | ISO 4217 international currency code (numeric code 404) | Bank transfers, forex rates, airline and card payments |
| /= | Older East African shorthand placed after a figure, as in 100/=, to show that there are no cents | Handwritten receipts, shop price tags, cheques |
| Sh or Shs | Short for “shillings”, common in news headlines | Media reports, informal writing |
The shilling is divided into 100 cents, although cents rarely appear in daily prices today.
Why the Symbol Goes First
In English, currency symbols and abbreviations usually come before the number. Britain writes £20, the United States writes $20, and Kenya, which used the British-linked East African shilling until 1966, writes KSh 20.
The ISO code works the same way. Banks write KES 10,000, and many add a space between the code and the number. In business writing, the safest choice is to pick one form, such as KSh, and use it consistently with a space before the figure, as in KSh 1,500.
Where the Kenya Shilling Came From
According to the Central Bank of Kenya’s (CBK) currency history, the shilling took a long route to Kenya:
- Trade currencies: Before coins became common, coastal and inland trade relied on barter and items such as cowrie shells, cloth, wire and beads. The Maria Theresa thaler and the Indian rupee later circulated along the coast.
- The rupee era: The Imperial British East Africa Company issued pice, rupees and annas. The rupee spread inland with the building of the railway from Mombasa, which started in 1896. CBK notes that the pice gave rise to the Swahili word “pesa”.
- The East African shilling: In December 1919, a London-based East African Currency Board was set up, and the currency was moved from rupees to a sterling-linked system. An intermediate florin came first, and then the shilling, which was used at 20 shillings to the pound.
- Independence: As the East African states became independent, the board issued interim “Lake Issue” notes showing a dhow on Lake Victoria. Each country then set up its own central bank.
The Kenya Shilling Since 1966
CBK was established in 1966 under the Central Bank of Kenya Act. Its first banknotes were legalised under Legal Notice No. 252 of 1966, dated 1 July 1966, in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 shillings, all carrying the portrait of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. The first Kenya shilling coins followed on 10 April 1967 in denominations of 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents and 1 shilling, minted by the Royal Mint. The old East African Currency Board notes stopped being legal tender in September 1967, and its coins were demonetised in April 1969.
Today CBK remains the only issuer of the shilling. You can follow the currency’s recent movements in our report on the shilling and T-bill rates, and CBK’s interest rate decisions in our coverage of the Monetary Policy Committee.
How to Write Shillings Correctly
- Invoices and quotations: KSh 25,000 or KES 25,000. State the currency once in a heading if the whole table is in shillings.
- Bank and international payments: use KES, because foreign systems recognise ISO codes.
- Large amounts: KSh 2.5 million or KSh 2.5bn in reports. Spell out “million” or “billion” in formal letters.
- CVs and salary expectations: write the figure with the currency and the period, such as KSh 80,000 per month gross. Job seekers can compare pay on Job in Kenya.
- Avoid mixing forms in one document, for example KSh in one line and Kshs. in the next.
Frequently asked questions
What is the symbol for the Kenya shilling?
KSh is the common symbol. KES is the international ISO code.
Do you write KSh before or after the amount?
Before, as in KSh 1,000. The older /= mark goes after the figure, as in 1,000/=.
What does /= mean on a price?
It is shorthand that the amount is in whole shillings with no cents.
When was the Kenya shilling introduced?
CBK’s first notes were legalised in July 1966, and the first coins were issued in April 1967, replacing the East African shilling.
How many cents make a shilling?
100 cents make one Kenya shilling.
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