Safaricom launches stocks trading on M-PESA

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Mobile Finance; 13 February 2026; 12505 views

Safaricom has partnered with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) to launch Ziidi Trader, a new feature within the M-PESA app that allows customers to buy and sell shares directly from their mobile phones.

The move brings stock market trading into Kenya’s dominant mobile money ecosystem, lowering the barrier to entry for retail investors and widening participation in the country’s capital markets. Users can buy and sell NSE-listed shares, track portfolios and access market information within the app.

Ziidi Trader operates under the oversight of the Capital Markets Authority, with Safaricom positioning the service as a secure and regulated gateway to long-term investing.

The launch builds on Safaricom’s broader Ziidi investment push. The operator previously introduced Ziidi MMF to promote structured saving, followed by Ziidi Shariah to offer compliant investment options. With Ziidi Trader, the company is extending the platform into equities and corporate bonds, further embedding financial services into its digital ecosystem.

Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa said the new service is aimed at “democratising wealth” by making investing simple and accessible through M-PESA, which has been central to Kenya’s digital economy for nearly two decades.

NSE CEO Frank Mwiti added that integrating trading into M-PESA would help bring the stock market closer to everyday Kenyans, including those abroad, and support broader economic participation.

Ziidi Trader is available under the financial services tab in the M-PESA app.