Safaricom expands M-PESA retail investing with Ziidi Trader launch
Updated
Updated · TechCabal · May 8
Safaricom expands M-PESA retail investing with Ziidi Trader launch
8 articles · Updated · TechCabal · May 8
For the year to March 2026, Ziidi fund assets more than doubled to KES 18.7bn, while total wealth assets on the platform reached KES 21bn.
M-PESA processed KES 41.7tn in transactions and served nearly 41 million active users, as revenue rose 13.4% to KES 182.7bn and merchant numbers jumped 71% to 3.1 million.
The push deepens Safaricom's move beyond payments into savings, insurance, securities and cross-border transfers, increasing pressure on Kenyan banks as more consumers manage money through mobile platforms.
As M-PESA handles 60% of stock trades, is Kenya’s economy now too reliant on a single company?
Is M-PESA's new anti-fraud measure accidentally hurting the small businesses it was built to serve?
With millions now investing solo on M-PESA, are Kenya’s traditional community savings groups facing extinction?
How Ziidi Trader’s Integration with M-PESA Tripled NSE Daily Trades to Over 25,000 in One Week
Overview
Safaricom launched Ziidi Trader in February 2026, integrating stock trading directly into the popular M-PESA app and removing traditional barriers like paperwork and minimum share requirements. This innovation triggered a rapid surge in Nairobi Securities Exchange activity, with daily trades tripling within a week and retail investors doubling in six weeks. The platform empowered millions, especially youth and women, to invest easily from their mobile phones, advancing Kenya's financial inclusion goals. Supported by a partnership with Kestrel Capital and government endorsement, Ziidi Trader is a key driver toward the NSE's target of 9 million retail investors by 2029. However, the influx of novice investors and reliance on a single broker raise market risks and regulatory challenges that require ongoing attention.