The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is leveraging new technology to boost foreign investment, with Absa Securities Kenya executing the first sponsored access trades. This new model allows foreign investors to directly access the NSE’s trading engine, promising faster execution and supporting high-volume trades.

• The new mechanism aims to revive foreign participation, which is currently at multi-year lows.
• Absa Bank South Africa routed the initial trades, demonstrating the system's functionality.
• Head of Electronic Sales at Absa CIB Merlin Rajah stated that this signals strong market confidence and technological readiness.
• The NSE hopes this will attract more regional deal flow, particularly from South African institutional investors.