The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is opening up stock trading to everyday Kenyans by introducing single-unit trading, enabling small retail investors to access the market easily.
As from August 8, 2025, investors can buy and sell shares one at a time, a drastic change from the previous rule of trading in lots of 100. Previously, you could only buy a minimum of 100 shares, making it expensive for small investors.
This comes after the Capital Markets Authority approved amendments to the NSE Equity Trading Rules. Its all in an effort to make the stock market available to more people and accessible to ordinary citizens.
Through this, the NSE will also eliminate the Odd Lot Board that previously handled trades involving fewer than 100 shares, typically at less favorable prices for small investors.
To maintain market integrity and align with global standards, the NSE will only determine the official daily closing price of a stock when a minimum of 100 shares have been traded for the day. This is meant to prevent price manipulation and ensure price stability.
NSE Chief Executive Officer Frank Mwiti applauded the policy shift as a critical milestone in the long-term push for enhanced investor participation by the exchange.
We are pleased to take this significant step towards enhancing retail investor participation in our market, Mwiti said in a statement. It aligns with our vision of increasing the number of active investors to 9 million by the year 2029.
Growing Stock Market Appetite
The reform comes at a convenient time, with retail investment appetite in the stock market growing at a rapid rate. A 2023 study by the African Development Bank showed a 300% growth in retail participation within five years, indicating a growing appetite for local investment options.
More recently, data from 5paisa.com released on July 24, 2025, showed NSE shareholder numbers increasing from 39,201 to over 159,000 within one quarter. The sudden surge suggests a radical change away from institutional control towards broader retail involvement in the stock market.
Analysts believe the introduction of single-unit trading will attract more first-time investors, especially young people who trade online, and enhance market liquidity.
The NSEs latest reforms are also expected to support national economic objectives by channeling additional local savings into the formal financial sector.
This development reinforces our efforts to deepen the market and support the growth of retail investor participation, while also aligning with global best practices in equity trading, added NSE CEO Frank Mwiti.
Being Kenyas leading securities exchange, the NSE plays a pivotal role in mobilizing capital for economic growth. It is a member of the East African Securities Exchanges Association, the World Federation of Exchanges, and the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative. The exchange is regulated by the Capital Markets Authority.
Read a statement from the NSE below;
