The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has introduced single-unit share trading, marking a major shift in how Kenyans can invest in the stock market.
This means investors can now buy or sell just one share of any listed company, instead of the previous rule that required a minimum of 100 shares per transaction.
The NSE announced the transformation through a post on X on August 8. It comes after the approval of updated NSE Equity Trading Rules and supports the exchange’s ongoing plan to bring in more retail investors under its Road to 9 Million Active Retail Investors initiative.
“You can now begin your investment journey with just one share of any company listed on the NSE. It’s never been more accessible to own a piece of the companies you believe in,” the NSE shared in the announcement.
This change is expected to make investing in the stock market easier for many Kenyans, especially those who were previously held back by the high cost of buying shares in bulk. It gives both beginners and experienced investors more freedom to build their portfolios at their own pace.
“By enabling single-unit trading, we’re making investing more accessible than ever,” the NSE said in a follow-up statement.
NSE Chief Executive Officer Frank Mwiti said the new policy fits into the exchange’s wider goal of increasing participation in the market.
“This initiative is part of our broader efforts to boost financial inclusion. It aligns with our goal to grow the number of active investors to nine million by 2029,” he said.
Along with this change, the exchange has scrapped the Odd Lot Board. This board used to handle trades involving fewer than 100 shares, often at less favourable prices.
However, the NSE noted that closing prices for shares will still be based on trades involving 100 or more shares to maintain price stability.
This reform is one of several steps being taken to revive activity at the NSE, which has been experiencing a slowdown. As of June 2025, the market’s total value stood at Ksh 2.3 trillion, with average daily turnover falling below Ksh 600 million. Since January 2023, foreign investors have withdrawn more than Ksh50 billion from the market. Meanwhile, the number of retail investor accounts remains low at 1.5 million, far from the 2029 goal.
In July, the NSE also introduced single stock futures for companies like Kenya Power and KenGen. Additionally, it rolled out dollar-based trading to attract more of the Ksh 560.4 billion in remittances sent by Kenyans living abroad in 2024. Plans to introduce asset tokenisation are also in progress.
The single-share trading reform is seen as a step towards making the stock market more inclusive and appealing to ordinary Kenyans.
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