In 2026, Safaricom officially launched Ziidi Trader — a groundbreaking feature embedded inside the M-Pesa App that allows Kenyans to buy and sell shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) directly from their mobile phones, without needing a traditional brokerage account. This innovation is transforming stock market investing in Kenya by making it accessible to millions of everyday people.
What Is Ziidi Trader?
Ziidi Trader is a mini-app within the M-Pesa ecosystem that lets users invest in listed companies on the NSE using their M-Pesa wallet. Before Ziidi, investing in shares required opening a Central Depository System (CDS) account through a licensed broker — a process many found slow, intimidating, and expensive. With Ziidi Trader, those barriers are removed.
Instead of having personal CDS numbers, users’ investment activities are processed through an omnibus account managed by Safaricom’s partner broker, Kestrel Capital — meaning your individual holdings are tracked and recorded on the platform.
Why Use Ziidi Trader to Invest in Shares?
✔ No paperwork or physical documentation — you only need your M-Pesa credentials.
✔ Accessible to millions of M-Pesa users — you can start investing right from your phone.
✔ Low minimum investment — you can buy as little as one share in many listed companies.
✔ Seamless integration with your M-Pesa wallet — money moves instantly between your wallet and your trading account.
Step-by-Step: How to Buy Shares via Ziidi Trader
Here’s the exact process to start investing in stocks using Ziidi Trader:
-
Open your M-Pesa App and navigate to the “Financial Services” section.
-
Tap Ziidi Trader and agree to the terms and conditions to opt into the service.
-
Verify your identity using your M-Pesa credentials.
-
Once inside the Ziidi Trader dashboard, go to the “Trade” tab.
-
Select the company whose shares you want to buy.
-
Choose a pricing option:
-
Best Price — lets the system match you with the current best market price.
-
Own Price — lets you set the exact price you’re willing to pay.
-
-
Enter the number of shares you want and review the order summary.
-
Tap Buy Shares, then Proceed, and confirm with your M-Pesa PIN.
-
The cost will be reserved from your M-Pesa balance and your order set for matching in the market.
If a seller matches your price, you’ll receive a confirmation, and the shares will show up in your portfolio inside Ziidi Trader. If not, the funds go back to your wallet.
How to Sell Shares on Ziidi Trader
Selling follows a similar flow:
-
Open Ziidi Trader.
-
Go to the “Trade” tab and select the shares you own.
-
Tap Sell.
-
Enter the price and number of shares.
-
Review the order and confirm with your M-Pesa PIN.
Once a buyer is found, your proceeds are automatically transferred to your M-Pesa wallet instantly.
Fees & Costs to Know
There are no fees for moving money between your M-Pesa wallet and Ziidi Trader, but normal NSE trading charges apply (like broker fees, stamp duty, and levies). Safaricom’s brokerage fee via Ziidi Trader is competitive, often lower than traditional stockbroker fees, making micro-investing more viable.
Community discussions suggest a total cost of about ~1.5% per trade (around 3% for both buy and sell). Always check the exact fee in the order summary before you transact.
Important Things to Remember Before You Invest
✅ Market risk exists — share prices can go up or down, and you could lose money. Ziidi Trader does not provide financial advice.
✅ Trading depends on matching orders — if prices don’t match, your trade might not execute.
✅ Ownership is recorded inside the platform, not in your personal CDS account.
✅ Market hours are the same as NSE (typically Monday to Friday, 9:30 am–3:00 pm).
Conclusion
Investing in shares via M-Pesa Ziidi Trader in Kenya just became one of the simplest, most accessible ways to enter the stock market. By removing complex brokerage procedures and embedding trading directly into a service millions already use daily, this tool has the potential to democratize investment for everyday Kenyans. Whether you’re investing for long-term growth or just getting started with stocks, Ziidi Trader truly simplifies the process.
