• Ziidi Trader enables NSE share trading via M-Pesa

• M-Pesa revenue rose 15.2% to 161.1 billion shillings in FY2025

• H1 FY2026 revenue up 14% on higher transaction volumes

Safaricom on February 10 launched “Ziidi Trader,” a new platform developed in partnership with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). Integrated into the M-Pesa mobile money app, the service allows Kenyans to buy and sell shares listed on the NSE directly from their mobile phones.

According to Safaricom, Ziidi Trader streamlines the investment process by enabling users to trade shares, monitor their portfolios and access market information within the app.

“Our partnership with Safaricom brings the stock market closer to the daily lives of Kenyans. By making NSE transactions accessible through M-Pesa, we are broadening participation in investment, both locally and internationally, and enabling more people to play an active role in Kenya’s economic growth,” said Frank Mwiti, chief executive of the NSE.

The initiative forms part of a broader strategy to diversify M-Pesa services beyond money transfers. In January 2025, Safaricom launched Ziidi MMF, a money market fund that allows customers to save and grow their funds with free deposits and withdrawals through their M-Pesa wallets. The company later introduced Ziidi Shariah, a product compliant with Islamic finance principles.

Beyond investment products, M-Pesa also offers international remittances, savings, agent-based credit and insurance services. In September 2025, Safaricom upgraded its network to improve performance, expand transaction capacity and enhance security. The operator said it aims to meet the growing needs of Africa’s digital economy while preparing for future opportunities.

M-Pesa has become Safaricom’s main growth driver over the years. Launched in 2007, the service generated 161.1 billion Kenyan shillings, about $1.24 billion, in the financial year ending March 31, 2025, up 15.2% from the previous year. It accounted for around 44.2% of the telecom operator’s 364.28 billion shillings in service revenue.

In the first half of fiscal 2026, from April 1 to September 30, 2025, M-Pesa revenue rose 14% year on year to 88.06 billion shillings, representing 45.4% of total service revenue. Growth was driven by a 26.5% increase in transaction volumes to 21.87 billion and a 5% rise in transaction value to 20,210 billion shillings. Active subscribers increased 7.5% to 37.92 million.

Isaac K. Kassouwi