Safaricom has signalled a plan to add government‑bond trading to its My OneApp platform in partnership with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK).

The proposal follows the February 2026 launch of Ziidi Trader, which already enables NSE share trading through the M‑PESA ecosystem.

The service is not yet live and the exact operating terms, such as minimum investment size or fees, have not been disclosed.

Kenyan investors can already purchase Treasury securities directly via the CBK’s DhowCSD platform or through approved intermediaries, but the mobile offering could shorten the distance between everyday phone users and the bond market.

Current CBK rules require a minimum face‑value bid of KSh 50,000 for non‑competitive purchases, a level that many low‑income households find difficult to meet in a single lump sum.

If the mobile product eventually allows smaller incremental purchases and keeps transaction costs low, it could enable gradual portfolio building for workers, small‑business owners and savings groups.

A typical Treasury bond pays a semi‑annual coupon; for example, a KSh 50,000 bond with a 12 % annual coupon would generate KSh 3,000 every six months before tax and fees, though the actual yield depends on purchase price and market conditions.

Bonds can be sold before maturity, but their market price fluctuates with prevailing yields, exposing investors to potential capital gains or losses.

Kenya’s earlier mobile bond platform, M‑Akiba, launched in 2017 with a KSh 3,000 minimum, attracted over 300,000 registrations but saw fewer than 6,000 actual purchases, highlighting the need for clear education and support.

Post‑launch analyses of M‑Akiba pointed to confusion over registration steps, insufficient reminders, and weak customer service as key barriers to wider uptake.

Any new mobile bond offering will need to provide plain‑language explanations of bond mechanics, disclose all fees upfront, and ensure robust identity checks and customer support to avoid repeating past shortcomings.