NAIROBI, Kenya — Safaricom PLC has unveiled Ziidi Trader, a new feature on its M-PESA platform that allows users to buy and sell shares directly on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), marking a major expansion of the mobile money service into retail investing and long-term wealth creation.
The launch positions M-PESA beyond everyday payments, savings, and credit, signalling Safaricom’s ambition to build a fully integrated digital financial services ecosystem that includes capital markets access.
Speaking at the launch, Safaricom Chief Financial Officer Dilip Pal said the rollout advances financial inclusion by widening access to investment opportunities traditionally limited to a smaller segment of the population.
“Today marks an important milestone in Safaricom’s journey to strengthen the financial well-being of every Kenyan,” Pal said.
“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.”
Pal said the expansion is supported by significant technology upgrades to ensure the platform can handle more complex financial services securely.
“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,” he said.
“This foundation strengthens fraud detection, improves reliability, and gives us the confidence to introduce innovative services like Ziidi Trader securely and at scale.”
According to Safaricom, the long-term goal is to create a unified digital ecosystem that integrates payments, savings, credit, investments, government services, developers, and partners on a single platform.
Ziidi Trader operates under the regulatory oversight of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) and in partnership with the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the Kenya Association of Stockbrokers and Investment Banks (KASIB), and the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC).
The feature enables users to trade shares, track portfolio performance, monitor listed company activity, and receive real-time market updates directly within the M-PESA app, significantly lowering entry barriers to stock market participation.
Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Dr. Peter Ndegwa said the platform builds on M-PESA’s 18-year role in 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,” Ndegwa said.
“Today, Safaricom PLC takes another bold step forward as we evolve beyond payments to empower Kenyans to invest and grow their wealth.”
He said the platform aims to give users greater control over their financial futures.
“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,” Ndegwa said.
