NASI Slips 0.2% as Nation Media Jumps 10% | Kenya Market Report, Oct 5

01 The session in one read

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) closed slightly lower on Monday 5 October 2026. Its broadest gauge, the NSE All Share Index (NASI), fell 0.44 points, or 0.18%, to 246.88.

Market capitalisation, the combined value of all listed shares, fell by KES 7.36 billion (about US$57 million) to KES 4,143.16 billion (about US$32.0 billion). Conversions in this report use the RT rate of 129.66 shillings per US dollar.

The NSE 20 Share Index added 3.26 points to 4,326.85. The NSE 25 Share Index slipped 0.34 points to 7,001.14, and the NSE 10 Share Index gained 1.82 points to 2,751.86. The banking sector index edged up 0.15 points to 289.74.

Activity was far heavier than on Friday. Investors traded 53.40 million shares in 15,042 deals, against 16.06 million shares in 12,517 deals the day before. Equity turnover, the money changing hands, rose by KES 59.36 million (about US$0.5 million) to KES 682.16 million (about US$5.3 million).

02 The day’s numbers

Percentage changes for the indices are calculated from the point changes published by the exchange. Turnover rose from KES 622.80 million (about US$4.8 million) on Friday. Shares traded rose from 16.06 million to 53.40 million.

The USD/KES line needs a caution. The RT market-data feed showed 129.66 on Monday, but its Friday print of 128.70 sat about 0.8% below the CBK’s 129.76 and then jumped without any matching move in the CBK rate. We therefore show no daily change and no chart for the shilling today. The CBK’s indicative rate of 129.76 is 0.08% above the RT figure; rates quoted by banks may differ.

03 Why it moved: a media rally, an airline slide, a quiet Safaricom

Nation Media Group was the story of the session. The shares rose 9.97% from KES 15.05 to KES 16.55, about the most the exchange allows in one day, and 21.22 million changed hands. That is roughly KES 351 million (about US$2.7 million), around half of the day’s turnover. We found no company announcement on the day that explains the move.

Kenya Airways fell 3.85% to KES 5.50 (US$0.04), with 19.52 million shares traded, worth roughly KES 107 million (about US$0.8 million). Kenya Reinsurance rose 1.59% to KES 4.47 (US$0.03) on 5.28 million shares.

Safaricom, which runs a mobile network and M-Pesa, the mobile-money service widely used in Kenya, slipped 0.55% to KES 36.35 (US$0.28). Only 807,173 shares traded.

Banks were mixed. KCB Group rose 0.54% to KES 93.00 (US$0.72) on 551,887 shares, and Co-operative Bank gained 1.35% to KES 37.55 (US$0.29). Equity Group slipped 0.24% to KES 105.25 (US$0.81), and Standard Chartered Bank Kenya fell 0.23% to KES 318.75 (US$2.46).

The Central Bank Rate stands at 8.75%, according to the CBK, and the next decision comes on Wednesday. Bank shares are sensitive to it, because lending rates and funding costs follow it.

04 The data behind the day

Rates (CBK). The CBK’s Monetary Policy Committee last met in August 2026 and kept the Central Bank Rate at 8.75%. Its next meeting is on Wednesday 7 October 2026. The Kenya Bankers Association has urged the bank to hold, while other forecasters have pointed to a possible rise. Nobody we found expects a cut.

Inflation (KNBS), released at the end of September. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) said annual inflation was 6.8% in September 2026, up from 6.6% in August and inside the CBK’s 2.5% to 7.5% target band. Food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 9.5% on the year and transport 15.6%. Firmer inflation reduces the room for rate cuts, which is the question hanging over Wednesday’s meeting.

GDP (KNBS). The RT economic calendar lists Kenya’s second-quarter GDP for Tuesday 6 October, with growth of 5.3% a year earlier in the first quarter and a forecast of 4.6% for the second. We could not confirm the release date on the KNBS website, so treat the timing as indicative.

Calendar check. The RT economic calendar listed no scheduled Kenyan data releases for Monday 5 October.

The currency. For a foreign visitor, 1,000 shillings is worth about US$7.71 at the RT rate. A steady shilling keeps import costs predictable and protects dollar returns on Kenyan shares.

05 The day’s movers

Nation Media and Kenya Airways together made up about 76% of the 53.40 million shares traded on Monday. Kenya Reinsurance added 5.28 million shares, and KenGen 2.77 million.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange’s own stock rose 0.16% to KES 30.40 (US$0.23) on 187,224 shares. East African Breweries was almost flat, up 0.09% to KES 287.50 (US$2.22). Among smaller names, Family Bank fell 2.61% to KES 27.95 (US$0.22).

06 The regional scoreboard

Nigeria’s NGX All-Share Index fell 0.06% to 250,667.86 points on Monday, from 250,808.27 on Friday.

Both markets ended a little lower. Each moves largely on local factors, so the match is not a sign of a common driver.

07 The technical picture

The NASI’s close at 246.88 leaves it 0.44 points below Friday’s level. The more useful signal is the gap between volume and value: 53.40 million shares traded for KES 682.16 million (about US$5.3 million), against 16.06 million for KES 622.80 million (about US$4.8 million) on Friday. Cheap stocks carried the volume.

For the NSE 20, the 4,326.85 close is modestly higher and slightly above Friday’s 4,323.60. Investors looking for a broader rally will want the large caps, not penny-priced shares, to lead.

For the shilling, the CBK rate of 129.76 per dollar is the level to watch around the rate decision.

08 What to watch

• Tuesday’s session: Whether Nation Media holds its jump and whether Safaricom’s volume returns
• Kenya GDP, Tuesday 6 October (indicative): The RT calendar lists second-quarter growth with a forecast of 4.6% against 5.3% before
• CBK rate decision, Wednesday 7 October: The Central Bank Rate is 8.75%; annual inflation was 6.8% in September
• Mashujaa Day, Tuesday 20 October: A public holiday in Kenya, when the Nairobi exchange is closed

Background: What Is Safaricom? Kenya’s M-Pesa Giant, Who Owns It and Why It Matters. More on the rate decision: Kenya Interest Rate Decision Set for October 7. Inflation: Kenya Inflation Hits 6.8 Per Cent, Highest Since 2024, as Food Costs Bite. Country coverage: Kenya news.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NSE All Share Index?

The NSE All Share Index (NASI) tracks all shares listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange. On Monday 5 October 2026 it fell 0.18% to 246.88.

What is the NSE 20 Share Index?

It is an index of 20 liquid, well-performing Kenyan companies. It gained 0.08% to 4,326.85 on 5 October 2026.

Why was trading so heavy on 5 October?

Two low-priced stocks drove it. Nation Media Group rose 9.97% to KES 16.55 (US$0.13) on 21.22 million shares, and Kenya Airways fell 3.85% on 19.52 million. Turnover rose only 9.5% to KES 682.16 million (about US$5.3 million).

What was the Kenyan shilling exchange rate?

The Central Bank of Kenya’s indicative rate was 129.76 shillings per US dollar on 5 October 2026, unchanged from Friday. RT market data showed 129.66.

When does the Central Bank of Kenya next decide on interest rates?

The Monetary Policy Committee meets on Wednesday 7 October 2026. It held the Central Bank Rate at 8.75% at its August meeting.

Source: Nairobi Securities Exchange market statistics and daily price list, as of Monday 5 October 2026; Central Bank Rate, MPC date and indicative exchange rate from the Central Bank of Kenya; inflation from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics; Nigeria index, GDP calendar and shilling rate from RT live market data (RT).

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief

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