Safaricom Launches Ziidi Trader to Bring the NSE to the Masses

Safaricom has officially leveled up the M-PESA app again. With the launch of Ziidi Trader, the “Super App” is no longer just for paying for your nyama choma or sending rent—it’s now a portal to the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

This move effectively turns millions of Kenyan smartphones into pocket-sized brokerage firms.

What is Ziidi Trader?

At its core, Ziidi Trader is a feature within the M-PESA App (under the Financial Services tab) that allows for direct stock market participation.

Key Features:

• Low Barrier to Entry: You can start investing with as little as one share.

• Portfolio Management: Real-time tracking of your stocks, watchlists, and price alerts.

• Regulatory Backing: Fully overseen by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA).

• The “Ziidi” Suite: It joins Ziidi MMF (savings) and Ziidi Shariah (Islamic finance) to round out Safaricom’s investment ecosystem.

The Big Picture: Funding a Sh5 Trillion Vision

President William Ruto’s presence at the launch wasn’t just ceremonial; he tied this platform to a massive 10-year national development agenda. The government is looking to fund:

• Infrastructure: Dualling 2,500km of highways and tarmacking 28,000km of new roads.

• Energy: Boosting capacity from 3,300MW to 10,000MW.

• Agriculture: Building 1,250 dams to irrigate 2.5 million acres.

The Strategy: To raise the Sh5 trillion needed for these projects without drowning the country in debt or hiking taxes, the government plans to leverage the capital markets. By privatizing agencies like the Kenya Pipeline Corporation (KPC) and making the NSE accessible to “the bottom of the pyramid” via M-PESA, the state is looking to turn ordinary citizens into the nation’s primary investors.

Historically, the stock market has been seen as a playground for the wealthy or the financially elite. Ziidi Trader changes that math:

“This platform represents a decisive turning point… dismantling long-standing barriers that have locked out many willing investors.” President William Ruto

Safaricom and the NSE are betting that the ease of M-PESA can do for the stock market what it did for banking 18 years ago. It’s a bold step toward a “digital lifestyle” where building wealth is as simple as sending a text.