President William Ruto has praised Kenya’s capital markets and Safaricom for expanding access to investment opportunities by enabling Kenyans to buy and sell shares directly from their mobile phones.

Speaking during the launch of Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader platform at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), the President said the innovation marks a major step in democratising ownership of public assets and opening up wealth creation to millions of citizens.

“With these innovations, ordinary Kenyans can now participate confidently in the capital markets from the comfort of their homes and phones,” President Ruto said. “This is how we broaden access, empower citizens, and revolutionise ownership.”

Ziidi Trader allows users to trade NSE-listed shares directly through the M-Pesa mobile money platform, lowering barriers to entry and making capital markets more inclusive.

The President reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening and reforming Kenya’s capital markets as a key pillar for mobilising resources to support the country’s KSh5 trillion national transformation plan. He noted that funds mobilised through the capital markets will be channelled via the National Infrastructure Fund and the Sovereign Wealth Fund to finance priority projects, attract private investment, and safeguard inter-generational equity.

The launch highlights the growing role of digital innovation in driving financial inclusion and supporting Kenya’s long-term economic transformation.