President William Ruto has said that the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is now counted among the best-performing share markets in the world, describing its recent turnaround as one of the strongest in Kenya’s financial history.
Speaking during the State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Wednesday, Ruto told lawmakers that the exchange has regained international attention after months of steady gains and renewed investor confidence.
He explained that the NSE has experienced a powerful resurgence, with investor wealth increasing sharply since the beginning of the year.
According to him, the market has added more than one trillion shillings in value since January, driven by a widespread rise in share prices across major counters. Ruto said this momentum has restored the exchange to its position as a key asset class and a central pillar of the country’s economy.
“The Nairobi Securities Exchange has recorded a powerful resurgence and is now recognised as one of the best-performing emerging markets globally. Since January 2025, investor wealth has grown by over 1 trillion shillings, driven by a broad share price rally that has re-established the Nairobi Securities Exchange as a premier asset class,” Ruto said.
He noted that this improved performance marks the strongest showing by the NSE in more than a decade and that last year’s progress has been surpassed by an even stronger cycle of growth. Ruto said the renewed activity in the capital markets reflects rising faith in the direction of Kenya’s economic reforms, which his administration has repeatedly defended as necessary for long-term stability.
Single-share trading
Ruto also highlighted recent changes aimed at making the market more inclusive. He pointed to the introduction of single-share trading, a major shift that now allows anyone to buy or sell even one share, instead of the old requirement that trades must be done in blocks of one hundred.
He said this change opens the door for small investors, young Kenyans, and people who previously felt locked out of the market by high entry costs.
Beyond the stock market, the President used his address to underline broader economic progress. He announced that Kenya has now risen to become the sixth-largest economy in Africa, moving up two places from its position two years ago.
He said the country’s GDP has grown from Ksh 14.8 trillion to Ksh 17.54 trillion during that period, a growth he linked to improved productivity and the resilience of key sectors.
“Two years ago, Kenya was ranked the eighth-largest economy in Africa, with a GDP of 115 billion US dollars. Today, the country’s GDP has increased to 136 billion US dollars, positioning Kenya as the sixth-largest economy on the continent, according to the IMF,” Ruto said.
The improved performance has also encouraged foreign investors who had retreated during previous years of uncertainty to gradually return, attracted by better market stability and stronger corporate results.
Ruto said the government intends to build on this momentum by deepening financial reforms, strengthening transparency in the capital markets and creating an environment that supports long-term investment.
He said the gains seen on the NSE and in the wider economy are signs that Kenya is moving in the right direction and that continued policy discipline will help the country secure even stronger growth in the coming years.
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