Safaricom Launches Ziidi Trader, Enabling Millions of Kenyans to Buy and Sell NSE Shares Directly Through M-Pesa

Kenyan investors can now buy and sell shares directly through M-Pesa, thanks to Safaricom’s new mobile trading platform, Ziidi Trader. The platform was officially launched on Tuesday at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, with President William Ruto presiding over the event.

Ziidi Trader aims to make the stock market accessible to millions of Kenyans who were previously sidelined. Traditionally, investors had to open a Central Depository System (CDS) account with a stockbroker to trade shares. Now, anyone with an M-Pesa account can participate without extra accounts or complicated procedures.

Kestrel Capital has been appointed as the sole broker for trades on the platform. Safaricom said the platform follows the success of mobile bond trading in 2017, when Kenyans could buy and sell government bonds directly through M-Pesa for the first time globally.

To start trading, users open the Ziidi Trader mini-app inside their M-Pesa app. They must accept the terms and conditions and verify their identity using existing M-Pesa KYC credentials. Mobile money PINs serve as passcodes to authorize transactions, making the process secure and straightforward.

Ziidi Trader pools funds from multiple investors into a single account managed by Kestrel. This setup removes the need for individual CDS accounts. Investors can view all listed companies, their descriptions, logos, and current bid and ask prices. Daily transactions are capped at KSh 500,000.

Safaricom’s Ziidi Money Market Fund shows the potential of mobile investment. For the half-year ending June 30, 2025, the fund earned KSh 354.36 million in investment income. Its total assets reached KSh 10.68 billion, with unitholder balances at KSh 10.59 billion. The fund invests in fixed deposits, government securities, corporate bonds, and call deposits.

Analysts say Ziidi Trader could revolutionize retail investing in Kenya. It allows Kenyans to access the stock market with convenience, speed, and security. Millions can now invest in shares as easily as sending money via M-Pesa.