Nairobi Securities Exchange · NSE
Kenya's stock exchange. The trading venue for equities, bonds, ETFs, and derivatives — and itself a CMA-regulated listed company.
Mandate
Founded 1954, demutualised and self-listed 2014. Operates as a regulated securities exchange under CMA oversight. Provides listing, trading, clearing, and settlement services across asset classes.
How it works
Trading happens on the Optiq trading platform (since 2019). Equities, bonds (FIXED income segment), ETFs, and derivatives (NEXT, the derivatives market launched 2019) all trade on NSE. Settlement is T+2 for equities, T+1 for fixed income. The Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC) handles dematerialised holdings.
Why it matters
Where Kenyan listed companies are priced, where Kenyans (in theory) can buy a share of national companies, and where the Treasury raises long-term debt from domestic investors. Liquidity in the NSE matters for capital costs, M&A activity, and the broader investment culture.
What to watch
NSE Daily Statistics, monthly market reviews, the NSE 20 Share Index, NSE 25, FTSE NSE 25, FTSE NSE Bond Index. New listings (rare in recent years) and delistings.
More from Kenya — capital-markets and sectoral regulators
- Capital Markets Authority · CMA
The regulator of Kenya's capital markets — IPOs, secondary markets, fund managers, investment banks, REITs, derivatives, and all collective investment schemes.
- Insurance Regulatory Authority · IRA
The regulator of Kenya's insurance industry — life, general, reinsurance, takaful, microinsurance, brokers, agents, and loss adjusters.
- Retirement Benefits Authority · RBA
Regulates and supervises every pension fund and retirement scheme in Kenya — NSSF, occupational schemes, individual retirement plans, umbrella funds.
- SACCO Societies Regulatory Authority · SASRA
Regulates Kenya's deposit-taking SACCOs — the segment of co-operative finance that runs FOSA accounts, holds member deposits, and operates like community banks.