The Nairobi Securities Exchange closed the week ending 9 October on a bearish note, with the Nairobi All‑Share Index down 1.0 % to 244.93 points and the NSE 10 Share Index falling 0.6 % to 2,734.60 points.

Overall market turnover slipped 14.4 % week‑on‑week to about US$14.4 million, indicating reduced trading activity.

Foreign investors were net sellers, withdrawing roughly US$5.7 million – about KSh737 million at an exchange rate of KSh129.2 per dollar – lowering their share of total market activity to 23.7 % from 40.1 % the previous week.

Safaricom attracted the largest foreign inflow of US$1.36 million, yet its shares slipped 2.2 % to KSh35.75, showing that foreign buying did not halt price declines in the market’s most liquid stocks.

Equity Group received US$724,000 of foreign money but fell 1.4 % to KSh104, while the NSE itself recorded the biggest foreign outflow at US$470,300.

Despite the weekly dip, year‑to‑date gains remain robust, with the NASI up 31.3 % and the NSE 10 up 39.2 % since the start of 2026.

Sector performance varied: I&M Holdings led gainers with a 6.1 % rise, while Nairobi Business Ventures posted the steepest weekly loss at 7.3 %.

Quickmart’s IPO of 2 billion shares at KSh7.50 each aims to raise KSh15 billion, requires a 75 % subscription rate and will close on 30 October.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery launched a GDR offering of 728,971,962 units at KSh53.50, targeting roughly KSh39 billion, with a minimum subscription of KSh50 million and a deadline of 13 October.

The Central Bank of Kenya kept its benchmark rate at 8.75 % and raised its 2026 growth forecast to 5.0 %, while inflation eased to 6.8 % in September, staying within the bank’s target band.

Private‑sector demand improved in September, with the Stanbic PMI climbing to 51.3, driven by stronger customer orders, though output remained contracted for the seventh month due to persistent cost pressures.