Ruto Launches Ziidi Trader as M-PESA Enters Stock Market

Kenya’s stock market is now just a tap away for millions of people. President William Ruto has launched Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader, a new tool that brings share trading right into the M-PESA app. This makes it easy for everyday Kenyans to join the world of investing, which used to be complicated and only for rich people.

The launch happened at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Ziidi Trader lets users buy and sell shares of listed companies without needing a traditional brokerage account or a CDS account. These were big problems before, as they kept small investors out. Now, anyone with M-PESA can get started quickly.

President Ruto called this a big step for economic inclusion. He said, “Through the seamless integration of stock trading into the M-PESA platform, millions of Kenyans, especially our youth and women, will gain simple, affordable, and convenient access to investments. This places the tools of ownership and growth directly in their hands.” He added that it is a proud moment because ordinary people can now buy shares from the comfort of their homes.

Ziidi Trader uses the same identity checks and PIN security that people already know from M-PESA. Users just opt in through the app. They can see real-time prices from the NSE and make trades using money in their M-PESA wallet. Safaricom worked with Kestrel Capital, a licensed broker, to handle the buying, selling, and settling of trades. What used to take lots of paperwork now happens in just a few taps.

Safaricom says this is a big change in how people access the stock market. In a statement on X, the company said, “Today marks a shift in how everyday M-PESA users can access the stock market, bringing the ability to buy and sell NSE shares directly inside M-PESA, without the traditional barriers that have kept many people on the sidelines.” They see it as part of Kenya’s digital growth, making sure no one is left behind in financial inclusion.

Kenya has one of the highest rates of mobile money use in Africa. Most people already use M-PESA for payments every day. But retail investors, ordinary people, have stayed away from the NSE because of high costs, too much paperwork, and not knowing enough about investing. Ziidi Trader fixes this by putting trading inside the app people trust. It removes the fear and extra steps that stopped informal traders, young savers, and regular workers from building wealth through shares.

This launch could change a lot for Kenya. More people joining the stock market means deeper capital markets and more Kenyans owning a piece of big companies. It helps spread wealth at home and speeds up financial inclusion. Many see it as part of a larger trend across Africa. Mobile phones are no longer just for sending money, they are becoming doors to long-term wealth creation.

President Ruto’s move shows how technology can make opportunities equal for everyone. With Ziidi Trader, the stock market is no longer for elites. It is for the youth saving their first paychecks, women running small businesses, and traders in markets who want to grow their money. Kenya is leading the way in making investing as simple as paying a bill.

Was this information useful? Drop a nice comment below. You can also check out other useful contents by following us on X/Twitter @siliconafritech, Instagram @Siliconafricatech, or Facebook @SiliconAfrica.