Nairobi — The images of past and current Kenyan heads of state could soon fade from local currency if the newly unveiled draft constitution sails through.

This could see images of Presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki wiped off all currency notes and coins, turning a new page in Kenya's history.

Traditionally, sitting heads of state have demanded that their portraits be carried on the local currency creating inconsistency in the process.

This is just one of the far reaching proposals suggested in Chapter 15 of the harmonized draft Constitution unveiled last week at a ceremony presided over by Kenya's Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

The new law also recommends the creation of a new office called the Controller of Budget that will oversee budget implementation as well as a new Commission of Revenue Allocation that will among other things determine how public funds are allocated to the various regions and population segments.

This could put an end to endless complaints that some regions and population segments have been neglected and marginalized as others mostly termed as 'politically correct' flourish at the tax payers' expense.

"Notes and coins issued by the Central Bank may bear images that depict or symbolize Kenya or an aspect that is unique to Kenya but may not bear the portrait or image of any individual," the draft says.

This will effectively see the phasing out of millions of notes and coins calling for a further expenditure to print and mint replacement of the notes and coins.

The procurement process of printing currency notes in Kenya has been in the past dogged by scandals with subsequent finance ministers leaving with tainted images.

The Central Bank of Kenya is currently awaiting government approval to take up at least 25% of Thomas De La Rue Kenya which has had exclusive rights to print and mint Kenyan currency since 1986.

The move is likely to meet some political resistance as vested interests once again come into play in what is likely to frustrate the country's latest step towards having a new constitution.

Kenyans have been given one month to read the harmonized draft compiled by a Committee of Experts and give views that are likely to be accommodated before the same is forwarded to Parliament for legislation in what will culminate into a national referendum.

During president Moi's tenure, attempts were made to remove currency bearing his predecessor Kenyatta's portrait.

However current president Mwai Kibaki's tenure has seen the full return of notes bearing Kenyatta's portrait.