Safaricom Launches 'Ziidi Trader' for Direct NSE Stock Trading

Safaricom has officially launched Ziidi Trader, a revolutionary feature within the M-Pesa Super App that allows millions of Kenyans to buy and sell stocks on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) as easily as they send money or buy airtime. The launch, held at the NSE trading floor and graced by President William Ruto, signals a massive shift toward "democratizing wealth." With over 35 million active M-Pesa users, Ziidi Trader effectively transforms every mobile phone in Kenya into a digital brokerage firm. Safaricom has unveiled Ziidi Trader, a new feature inside the M-Pesa app that lets Kenyans buy and sell Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) shares directly from their phones, removing the need for a separate CDS account and aiming to boost retail participation in the stock market. Breaking Down the Barriers For decades, the NSE has been perceived as a "rich man's club," hindered by cumbersome paperwork. In addition to the requirement of physical stockbroker visits and the "100-share board lot" rule. Ziidi Trader eliminates these friction points in one stroke. Key features of the platform include Instant Onboarding: No new ID uploads or paperwork. The platform leverages your existing M-Pesa KYC (Know Your Customer) details. Single-Share Trading: Moving away from the 100-share minimum, investors can now buy as little as one single share of any listed company, making blue-chip stocks like Safaricom, Equity Bank, or EABL accessible to anyone with a few shillings. Real-Time Execution: Trades are settled near-instantly, with funds moving directly from the M-Pesa wallet to the market and back. Portfolio Tracking: A sleek, "dark-mode" dashboard allows users to view their profit/loss, dividend history, and set price alerts for specific stocks. The "Omnibus" Advantage Ziidi Trader operates on an omnibus account structure . In this model, individual trades are pooled and executed through licensed brokers, with Kestrel Capital serving as the primary partner working behind the scenes. This allows Safaricom to offer professional-grade trading tools without forcing the user to navigate the complexities of traditional brokerage accounts. The Zidii Trader Launch is officially underway. We are honored to be joined by distinguished leaders from the Nairobi Securities Exchange, led by Chairman Mr. @KipronoKittony ,EBS, alongside senior members of the Safaricom Executive Committee, led by Mr. Dilip Pal, CFO Safaricom.… pic.twitter.com/qLIqAllChF — Safaricom PLC (@SafaricomPLC) February 10, 2026 We are moving M-Pesa from a tool for spending to a platform for wealth creation," said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa. "Ziidi Trader is the heartbeat of our strategy to ensure every Kenyan can own a piece of the companies that drive our economy." Economic Impact The NSE is betting on Ziidi Trader to help reach its goal of 9 million active retail investors by 2029 . Currently, only about 4% of registered CDS accounts are active. By meeting liquidity where it lives in the M-Pesa wallet, the exchange expects a surge in market activity and price discovery. The service follows the massive success of the Ziidi Money Market Fund , which attracted over 1.1 million users in its first year. Analysts expect Ziidi Trader to follow a similar trajectory, especially among Gen Z and Millennial investors looking for mobile-first investment solutions. ALSO READ: Kenya’s Silent Tragedy: How Young Men are Being Lured into a Foreign War