Nedbank, a South African lender, has announced it will retain all NCBA Group employees following its proposed acquisition of a 66 percent stake in the Kenyan lender. This assurance aims to maintain job security for NCBA's staff during the transition period.

• Nedbank submitted an offer last month to acquire approximately 1.1 billion NCBA ordinary shares at Sh5 each.
• NCBA operates in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ivory Coast, and Ghana, serving over 60 million customers.
• Under the proposed deal, NCBA would remain listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange and retain its brand and management team, with the transaction expected to close within 6 to 9 months, pending regulatory approvals.

The GEMA Cultural Association has urged Kenyan Members of Parliament to prioritize local investors in the planned sale of the government's 15 percent stake in Safaricom, warning against selling directly to Vodacom Group. This move aims to keep dividend income and long-term value within the domestic economy.

• The government plans to sell 15 percent of its 35 percent stake in Safaricom to raise approximately Sh204 billion.
• GEMA, through its professional arm Ndari Kirimaini, advocates for Kenyan retail investors, pension funds, and insurance firms to have first priority.
• The proposed sale would increase Vodacom's shareholding to about 55 percent, with the government retaining 20 percent.

Safaricom has launched Ziidi Trader, a new mobile-based share trading platform integrated into the M-Pesa app, allowing Kenyans to buy and sell shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) directly through their phones. This initiative aims to increase retail participation in Kenya's capital markets by simplifying the investment process.

• The Ziidi Trader platform eliminates the need for individual Central Depository System (CDS) accounts, pooling investor funds into an omnibus account managed by Kestrel Capital.
• President William Ruto hailed the platform as a significant move to democratize access to financial markets and investment opportunities, breaking down barriers for willing investors.
• Users can view live prices, track portfolios, and execute trades directly within the M-Pesa app, making investment more accessible for small-ticket trades and potentially attracting younger investors.