ZiiDi Trader is widening the gateway to Kenya’s stock market by expanding the identification documents accepted when opening investment accounts, allowing more people to access NSE-listed shares through their mobile phones.
The M-PESA-based trading platform previously required users to have a valid Kenyan national identification card linked to an existing M-PESA profile. It will now accept Kenyan passports, military IDs and foreign passports alongside the national ID.
The expanded identification options could make it easier for a wider group of potential investors to enter Kenya’s capital markets without relying exclusively on the traditional national ID requirement.
Kenyan citizens holding passports can use them to open ZiiDi Trader accounts, while members of the Kenya Defence Forces can use military identification. Foreign nationals resident in or transacting through Kenya can also access the platform using their foreign passports.
The development gives foreign nationals a clearer digital entry point into Kenya’s equities market, while providing Kenyan investors with additional identification options when registering for the service.
ZiiDi Trader allows users to buy and sell shares listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange directly from their phones. This means prospective investors can access stock trading without physically visiting a stockbroker or going through traditional Central Depository and Settlement Corporation paperwork.
The move reflects the growing shift towards digital access to investment services, particularly through platforms connected to mobile money ecosystems.
By broadening its identification requirements, ZiiDi Trader is effectively shifting one of the first hurdles to stock-market participation from physical documentation to digital onboarding.
The expanded eligibility, however, does not mean investors bypass regulatory requirements. Users will still need to complete the platform’s account-opening and verification processes before trading.
The change could ultimately broaden participation in Kenya’s capital markets by giving more Kenyans and eligible foreign nationals a simpler route to becoming shareholders in companies listed on the NSE.
For a market seeking deeper retail participation, easier digital onboarding could become an important factor in bringing investment closer to everyday mobile users.