Faith Masita
The launch of the Ziidi trading platform has triggered a 61 percent increase in the number of ordinary Kenyans investing at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, marking a major shift in how citizens access the country’s capital markets.
The mobile-based platform allows users to buy and sell shares directly through the M-Pesa ecosystem, eliminating many of the traditional barriers that previously kept small investors away from the stock market.
Speaking during the launch, William Ruto said the innovation represents a turning point in democratizing investment opportunities for millions of Kenyans.
“This is a proud moment for me that finally ordinary people can buy shares. You don’t have to look for a CDS account, you don’t have to know any broker, they don’t have to come to the exchange, they can trade from the comfort of their homes using their phones,” the President said.
Ruto added that the platform opens the door for more Kenyans, especially young people and small-scale investors, to participate in wealth creation through the stock market.
Analysts say the integration of share trading into the widely used mobile money ecosystem could significantly deepen retail participation and boost activity at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. With millions of mobile money users across the country, platforms like Ziidi are expected to accelerate financial inclusion and transform how Kenyans invest in listed companies.
