The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) will allow Kenyans to buy and sell as little as one share starting August 1, 2025, following regulatory approval to scrap the mandatory 100-share minimum trading rule.

The Capital Markets Authority (CMA) cleared amendments to the Equity Trading Rules, enabling securities to trade in units of one. The change is expected to significantly lower entry barriers for retail investors.

“We listened and acted. You can now buy a single share of stock at the NSE PLC starting 1st August 2025. Stocks will now trade in multiples of one – phasing out the Odd Lot Board. Also, closing prices will only count if ≥100 shares trade in a session. Welcome to the era of a more inclusive NSE,” said NSE Chief Executive Frank Mwiti on X.

Market participants have been instructed to notify clients and update their trading systems before the new rules take effect.

This development aligns with a broader global trend aimed at democratising capital markets and expanding retail investor access. In Kenya, where financial inclusion is a national policy objective, only 1.77mn investor accounts were active at the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC) as of December 2023—representing a small portion of the country’s 50mn population—according to the Kenya Financial Stability Report 2023. By eliminating the 100-share threshold, the NSE aims to increase participation, deepen liquidity, and support broader economic inclusion.

The exchange also clarified that if fewer than 100 shares are traded during a session, the previous day’s average price will be retained as the closing value.

Separately, as bne IntelliNews reported, South African investment firm Satrix, owned by Sanlam Group, has dual-listed its MSCI World Feeder Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) on the NSE. Originally listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the ETF tracks the MSCI World Index and gives investors access to over 1,300 large- and mid-cap firms across 23 developed markets.

NSE Chair Kiprono Kittony said the listing reflects international confidence in Kenya’s financial infrastructure.