Mobile money is rapidly reshaping stock market participation in Kenya, with Nairobi’s securities exchange seeing a surge in retail investors after trading was integrated with the M-Pesa platform. Just six weeks after the launch, about 200,000 users were already trading through an M-Pesa-linked app, effectively doubling the number of active retail investors. Executives say these users now account for roughly 60% of transactions on the exchange, highlighting how digital payments are opening markets to a wider public. The initiative reflects a broader strategy to expand access to investing and reach millions of new traders by 2029. Policymakers also see deeper local participation as a way to strengthen capital markets and reduce reliance on costly foreign borrowing.
Semafor
