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There Is No "East African Penny" — Each Country Has Its Own Currency

No such coin exists. "East Africa" is a region, not a monetary union with a single currency.

Current Currencies (2024)

CountryCurrencySubunit
KenyaKenyan Shilling (KES)100 cents
TanzaniaTanzanian Shilling (TZS)100 senti
UgandaUgandan Shilling (UGX)100 cents (obsolete)
RwandaRwandan Franc (RWF)100 centimes
BurundiBurundian Franc (BIF)100 centimes
South SudanSouth Sudanese Pound (SSP)100 piasters
DR Congo (eastern)Congolese Franc (CDF)100 centimes
SomaliaSomali Shilling (SOS)100 centi
EthiopiaEthiopian Birr (ETB)100 santim
EritreaEritrean Nakfa (ERN)100 cents
DjiboutiDjiboutian Franc (DJF)100 centimes

Historical Note

  • East African Shilling (1921–1969) — Currency board for Kenya, Uganda, Tanganyika, Zanzibar, Aden, Somaliland. 100 cents = 1 shilling. Coins: 1, 5, 10, 50 cents, 1 shilling.
  • Replaced by national currencies post-independence.

East African Community (EAC) Future

EAC (7 members) aims for monetary union (East African Shilling revival) — target 2031, but political/fiscal hurdles remain.

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