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.

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.