Average transaction size on M-Pesa Ziidi Trader grows to Sh4,800

Retail investors using the M-Pesa Ziidi Trader platform are spending an average of Sh4,800 per share purchase, reflecting an increase from the Sh2,870 recorded around its initial rollout. The platform has attracted nearly 1 million total sign-ups since its launch.

Despite the high registration figures, participation rates show a clear gap between casual account creation and continuous trading. Active traders on the system remain below 150,000, even as individual order sizes grow among those who participate.

The rise in ticket size indicates that engaged users are committing larger sums to capital market investments through mobile money channels. Mobile payment systems, including M-Pesa, operated by Safaricom PLC (SCOM), continue to expand access to retail financial services across Kenya.

However, the difference between total registered profiles and active accounts underscores ongoing adoption hurdles in retail stock markets. Industry observers note that while digital access lowers barriers to entry, sustained trading activity requires ongoing investor education and favorable market conditions.

Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) investment products have increasingly targeted retail users via mobile interfaces. The shift toward mobile trading is designed to broaden retail participation in listed equities and government securities.

Digital platforms allow retail investors to execute trades, check market positions, and fund accounts directly from mobile wallets. The M-Pesa Ziidi Trader interface integrates these capabilities to streamline stock market transactions for ordinary users.

Market analysts continue to monitor whether rising transaction values will eventually drive higher daily active participation. For now, total active accounts remain capped below the 150,000 mark.

The data highlights both the potential and limitations of mobile-led financial inclusion in retail equities. While mobile wallets make trading accessible, converting passive registrations into regular trading behavior remains a broader challenge for capital markets.

Further engagement strategy refinements from market operators may determine whether active user numbers catch up with total platform registrations over time.