Safaricom Launches Ziidi Trader To Enable Stock Trading Via M-PESA

Safaricom PLC has unveiled Ziidi Trader, a new feature on its M-PESA platform that allows Kenyans to buy and sell shares directly on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), marking a significant step in the company’s evolution from a mobile payments provider into a broader digital financial services player.

The launch signals Safaricom’s growing ambition to extend M-PESA beyond everyday transactions into long-term wealth creation, positioning the platform as an integrated gateway for payments, savings, credit, and now investments.

Speaking at the launch, Safaricom Chief Financial Officer Dilip Pal described the rollout as a milestone in advancing financial inclusion and expanding access to investment opportunities.

“Today marks an important milestone in Safaricom’s journey to strengthen the financial wellbeing of every Kenyan,” said Pal. “With Ziidi Trader now live on M-PESA, we are extending the platform beyond payments and short-term transactions into long-term wealth creation through securities trading on the NSE.”

He noted that the move is underpinned by significant infrastructure investments aimed at preparing the platform for more sophisticated financial services.

“To support this future, we have made significant investments in transforming M-PESA into a cloud-native, AI-enabled platform built for scale, resilience, and trust,” Pal said. “This foundation strengthens fraud detection, improves reliability, and gives us the confidence to introduce innovative services like Ziidi Trader securely and at scale.”

Pal added that the long-term vision is to create an integrated financial ecosystem. “Our ambition is to build Africa’s leading purpose-led digital financial ecosystem, one that seamlessly brings together payments, savings, credit, investments, government services, developers, and partners under a single, trusted platform.”

Ziidi Trader is being rolled out under the regulatory oversight of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and in partnership with key market institutions including the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), the Kenya Association of Stockbrokers and Investment Banks (KASIB), and the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC).

The feature enables users to buy and sell shares, track portfolio performance, monitor listed company activity, and receive real-time market updates directly within the M-PESA app, opening stock market participation to a significantly wider retail base.

Safaricom CEO Dr. Peter Ndegwa said the platform builds on M-PESA’s 18-year legacy of expanding financial access while introducing a new investment dimension.

“For the past 18 years, M-PESA has been at the centre of Kenya’s financial inclusion story, expanding access, enabling opportunity, and transforming lives,” said Ndegwa. “Today, Safaricom PLC takes another bold step forward as we evolve beyond payments to empower Kenyans to invest and grow their wealth.”

He emphasised the platform’s role in giving users greater financial agency. “With this platform, we are giving Kenyans greater control over their financial future,” he said. “By combining trusted technology with accessible guidance, Ziidi Trader creates a safe and supportive environment where anyone can begin their investment journey with confidence, grow their wealth, and strengthen their long-term financial wellbeing.”

The launch marks a notable shift in Kenya’s financial landscape, lowering traditional barriers to securities trading and advancing the democratization of the country’s capital markets by embedding investment access within one of Africa’s most widely used mobile money platforms.