Kenyans will soon be able to buy and sell shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange right from their phones using M-Pesa. The new feature, called Ziidi Trader, comes from a partnership between Safaricom and the NSE. It launches fully in January 2026 after a successful pilot phase.
Right now, trading shares usually means going through a stockbroker. You open a Central Depository System account, link it to a broker, and fund it. That can take time and paperwork. Many people find it complicated. Ziidi Trader changes that. It builds stock trading straight into the M-Pesa app. Users can deposit and withdraw money directly from their M-Pesa wallet. No separate trading account is needed in some cases.
NSE chief executive Frank Mwiti said the setup makes things seamless. M-Pesa already has millions of users across Kenya. This could bring many new investors into the market. Retail participation has been low. Over 1.4 million CDS accounts exist, but only a small fraction trade actively.
The idea follows other moves to make investing easier. Last year, the Ziidi Money Market Fund launched inside M-Pesa. People could start with as little as Sh100. It grew fast, reaching billions in assets quickly. Ziidi Trader builds on that. It will offer tools like watchlists, real-time prices, and portfolio tracking.
Safaricom has been pushing M-Pesa beyond just sending money. It now includes savings, loans, and investments. Adding stocks fits that plan. The Capital Markets Authority approved similar products before. This one got the green light too.
For everyday Kenyans, it opens doors. You might have spare cash in M-Pesa. Soon, you could put some into shares of companies like Safaricom, Equity Bank, or KCB. No need to visit a broker’s office or fill out long forms.
Experts think it could boost the NSE overall. More traders mean more liquidity. Companies might see higher interest in their shares. Young people, who use mobile money a lot, could start investing earlier.
There are still rules to follow. Investors will need a CDS account linked somehow. Taxes on gains apply as usual. The app will likely guide users through steps. Safaricom plans education too, to help beginners understand risks.
Some brokers offer online trading already. Apps like Hisa or Ndovu let you trade on your phone. But linking to M-Pesa directly is new. It removes one big step – moving money around.
The pilot went well in late 2025. Full rollout starts next month. Many are watching to see how many sign up. If it takes off like the money market fund, it could change how Kenyans invest.
This fits bigger trends in Kenya. Mobile money led the way globally. Now it’s pulling people into capital markets. From sending cash to family to owning part of big companies – all on one app.
People in Nairobi and across the country search for easy ways to grow money. Ziidi Trader aims to answer that. It keeps things simple, using what most already have – an M-Pesa account.
As January nears, expect more details from Safaricom. For now, it’s big news for anyone thinking about the stock market in Kenya. Trading shares could become as common as paying bills on a phone.
