The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) has activated a live trading link with Absa Bank South Africa, enabling the lender to execute trades on the Kenyan market through its local unit, Absa Securities Limited, the bourse has said.
The go-live marks a major step in NSE’s plan to harness technology to deepen liquidity, enhance efficiency and revitalise the capital markets ecosystem. The exchange said the link strengthens its regional connectivity and supports efforts to attract a broader pool of domestic, regional and global investors.
“This is not only a win for the Nairobi Securities Exchange, but for the broader region,” said NSE chief executive Frank Mwiti. “The successful deployment of Sponsored Access by Absa is a powerful signal of investor confidence and technological readiness.”
Under sponsored access arrangements, qualified participants can route orders directly into the NSE trading system through a sponsoring broker under a tightly regulated framework, improving speed, transparency and operational efficiency.
Merlin Rajah, head of electronic sales at Absa Capital Investment Bank, said the link demonstrated Absa’s commitment to expanding market connectivity across Africa. “It is a tangible example of how regional collaboration and technology can deepen liquidity and unlock new opportunities for growth,” he said.
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The NSE said it plans to expand innovation and cross-border participation as part of a broader strategy to build a technology-driven marketplace that supports sustainable investment.
Absa Bank South Africa brings significant weight to the Nairobi market through several listings, including the Absa gold-backed ETF, whose units have doubled since listing three years ago amid strong demand. The ETF has gained 15.47 percent so far this year.
Absa, through Absa Bank Kenya, also advised on the secondary listing of the Satrix MSCI World Feeder ETF, which gives local investors exposure to developed global equity markets.
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