Starting August 8, 2025, the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) will enable the buying and selling of shares in single units, following regulatory approval of amendments to its Equity Trading Rules.
This marks a major shift in Kenya’s capital markets, eliminating the requirement for minimum trade sizes—previously a barrier for many individual investors—and allowing shares to be traded in multiples of one (1).
Strategic Implications
The move aligns squarely with the NSE’s 2023–2029 Strategic Plan, which aims to:
- Increase retail investor participation
- Enhance market liquidity
- Drive financial inclusion across the region
“This policy change is not just procedural, it is transformational,” said Frank Mwiti, CEO of NSE. “It opens doors for millions of Kenyans to begin their investment journeys without the burden of bulk purchase requirements. We are targeting 9 million active investors by 2029, and this is a major catalyst toward that goal.”
Broadening the Investor Base
Single-unit trading offers:
- Greater flexibility for small and first-time investors
- Reduced entry barriers that democratize access to Kenya’s capital markets
- Support for fintech and digital platforms to scale fractional investing and youth engagement
By facilitating micro-level participation, the NSE positions itself to absorb more retail volume, stimulate market depth, and fuel investor confidence at all levels from institutional to grassroots.
