Safaricom PLC (NSE: SCOM), in partnership with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), has launched Ziidi Trader, a new feature on the M‑PESA app that allows Kenyans to buy and sell shares directly on the NSE.
This marks a milestone in Safaricom’s evolution from a mobile payments service into a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem.
Expanding Access to Capital Markets
Ziidi Trader democratizes investing by leveraging M‑PESA’s scale to bring the stock market closer to millions of Kenyans. The platform offers a secure, user‑friendly mobile experience designed to simplify investing, encourage long‑term wealth creation, and expand participation in Kenya’s capital markets.
Oversight and Investor Protection
Ziidi Trader operates under the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), in collaboration with the Kenya Association of Stockbrokers and Investment Banks (KASIB) and the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC). This ensures:
- Investor protection
- Transparency and market integrity
- Clear disclosures and investor education
Building on the Ziidi Investment Platform
Ziidi Trader is the latest step in Safaricom’s financial wellness journey:
- Ziidi MMF – introduced disciplined saving and investment.
- Ziidi Shariah – provided inclusive, Shariah‑compliant options.
- Ziidi Trader – now opens direct access to the stock market through a simple, secure, fully digital experience.
“Ziidi Trader is a powerful step in democratizing wealth for our customers. For eighteen years, M‑PESA has transformed how Kenyans live, work, and do business. Today, in partnership with the NSE, we are extending that impact to how our customers build and grow their wealth,”Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC.
“Today marks an important milestone in Safaricom’s journey to strengthen the financial wellbeing of every Kenyan. With Ziidi Trader now live on M‑PESA, we are extending the platform beyond payments and short‑term transactions into long‑term wealth creation through securities trading on the NSE. To support this future, we have made significant investments in transforming M‑PESA into a cloud‑native, AI‑enabled platform built for scale, resilience, and trust, ” Dilip Pal, CFO, Safaricom PLC
“Partnering with Safaricom is helping us bring the stock market closer to everyday Kenyans. By making NSE trading available through M‑PESA, we are enabling more people, locally and abroad, to invest and play an active role in Kenya’s economic growth,”Frank Mwiti, CEO, Nairobi Securities Exchange.
Presidential Endorsement
At the official launch held at the NSE on February 10, 2026, President William Ruto emphasized that Ziidi Trader is designed to bring ordinary workers into formal investment spaces that were once difficult to reach.
“Do not confuse stock theft with the stock exchange. They are very different. While you are engaged in stock theft, there are people engaged in the stock exchange trading and buying shares and creating wealth. Today, those engaged in stock theft have no excuse—they can now participate in the stock exchange because Ziidi Trader provides the mechanism and opportunity.”
The President highlighted how the platform empowers small‑scale traders and transport operators:
“From today, this is a pathway for my friends, the Mama Mbogas and the boda boda guys, to own a home, to access help, and to buy shares. From the comfort of their market stalls or motorbikes, with their phone, they can trade at the NSE.”
He also pointed to the upcoming Kenya Pipeline Company IPO, noting that Kenyans will be able to participate directly from their phones without traveling.
Ruto stressed that Kenya needs more citizens actively involved in the financial system, noting that only about 200,000 people currently trade on the NSE. He described Ziidi Trader as a major step toward expanding financial access through technology, enabling youth, women, and small‑scale entrepreneurs to invest in shares, bonds, and other listed products.
The President tied the initiative to broader national development goals, including infrastructure expansion, energy supply, and irrigation projects, noting that such efforts require large pools of capital that can be raised through investment markets rather than higher taxes or debt.
Key Features of Ziidi Trader
- Buy and sell NSE‑listed shares directly in the M‑PESA app
- Track portfolios and monitor company performance
- Access real‑time market updates and insights
- Invest in corporate bonds to diversify portfolios
- Secure transactions backed by Safaricom’s trusted technology and NSE’s expertise
- Start investing from as little as one share
How to Access
M‑PESA customers can find Ziidi Trader under the Financial Services tab in the app. After accepting the terms and conditions, they can begin trading immediately.
Ziidi Trader: How M-Pesa Is Transforming Stock Market Access in Kenya
Safaricom’s Digital Financial Ecosystem Vision
The rollout of Ziidi Trader builds on Safaricom’s substantial investment in transforming M‑PESA into a cloud‑native, AI‑enabled platform designed for scale, resilience, and trust. These upgrades enhance fraud detection, improve reliability, and provide the foundation for innovative services like Ziidi Trader.
Safaricom’s ambition is to build Africa’s leading purpose‑driven digital financial ecosystem, seamlessly integrating:
- Payments
- Savings
- Credit
- Investments
- Government services
- Developer and partner solutions
All under one trusted platform.
Driving Financial Inclusion
For the past 18 years, M‑PESA has been at the heart of Kenya’s financial inclusion story—expanding access, enabling opportunity, and transforming lives. With Ziidi Trader, Safaricom takes another bold step forward, empowering Kenyans to invest, grow their wealth, and strengthen their long‑term financial wellbeing.
The launch signals a new era for Kenya’s financial system, where trading on the NSE is no longer limited to institutions and high‑net‑worth individuals. It represents a major step toward broader participation and democratization of the country’s capital markets..
