Trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has surged to unprecedented levels as Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader platform reshapes how retail investors access the market.
- •Equity deals settled at a record 25,700 trades on 11 February, the highest in the exchange’s history, extending a sharp run-up that began when Ziidi started piloting on Thursday, 5 February.
- •Activity jumped to 8,713 deals on day one, accelerated to 12,893 on 6 February, reached 14,300 on 9 February, and touched 15,700 mid-session on 11 February before closing even higher.
- •The shift marks a clear break from the recent norm of roughly 4,000–7,800 daily trades recorded between October and January, suggesting a structural lift in participation rather than a temporary spike.
Liquidity has moved in tandem. The bourse posted KSh 2.439 billion in equity turnover on 10 February and KSh 1.830 billion on 11 February, only the second back-to-back KSh 1 billion-plus streak this year. Midway through trading on 11 February, turnover had already reached KSh 1.6 billion, the strongest two-hour performance since 19 December.
Deal counts were led by Kenya Power, which logged 3,039 trades worth KSh 27.53 million, while Safaricom dominated value with 2,921 deals worth KSh 612.02 million. Other heavily traded counters included KenGen, Absa, Co-op Bank, Equity, KCB, CIC, Kenya Airways and Britam.
Foreign investors were net buyers on the day, purchasing KSh 600 million against KSh 210 million in sales, a notable reversal from several recent sessions when offshore flows leaned negative.
Prices have reflected the momentum. The benchmark NSE All Share Index printed a fresh record of 209.65, with five stocks at all-time highs—Equity, I&M, KCB, StanChart and Sameer—and six others hitting multi-year peaks, including Safaricom and Kenya Power. The breadth points to a market-wide rally rather than a sector-specific move.
Ziidi’s design helps explain the surge. By embedding share trading inside M-Pesa, the platform removes traditional friction such as paperwork and individual CDS accounts, while still preserving dividend and voting rights through a Safaricom–Kestrel omnibus account. Ziidi has also signaled fees closer to 1.5%, below the prevailing 1.8%–2.5% market range, a stance publicly backed by President William Ruto.
The spike comes as the Kenya Pipeline Company IPO remains open on Ziidi, with seven days left before the 19 February close and a scheduled 9 March listing—adding another near-term catalyst for retail engagement.
