Kenya Markets: NSE & the Shilling — October 1, 2026
Key Facts
- Nairobi edged higher: the NSE All Share Index (NASI) rose 1.22 points, or 0.50%, to 246.82 on Thursday 1 October 2026, the first session of the fourth quarter
- The NSE 20 Share Index barely moved, adding 1.72 points (0.04%) to 4,318.68, while the NSE 25 gained 0.13% to 6,986.58
- Safaricom led: the telecoms and M-Pesa group rose 1.39% to KES 36.40 (US$0.28) on 3.81 million shares, the most traded stock of the day
- Trading thinned: equity turnover fell to KES 432.96 million (about US$3.3 million) from KES 539.56 million on Wednesday
- The shilling held steady at a Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) indicative rate of 129.71 per US dollar
- Inflation backdrop: annual inflation rose to 6.8% in September from 6.6% in August, the statistics office said on Wednesday
Today’s Focus
Kenya’s stock market started the fourth quarter with a modest gain. The NSE All Share Index, which tracks every share listed in Nairobi, rose 0.50% to 246.82 points on Thursday.
The move came almost entirely from Safaricom, the largest company on the exchange. Its shares rose 1.39% to KES 36.40 (US$0.28) on 3.81 million shares traded, more than any other stock.
The narrower NSE 20 Share Index, which follows 20 large blue-chip stocks, gained only 0.04% to 4,318.68. The gap between the two indices shows how much weight Safaricom carries in the broad market.
The Kenyan shilling was steady at 129.71 per US dollar on the central bank’s indicative rate. Fresh inflation data released on Wednesday showed prices rising 6.8% on the year in September.
What matters today. The market rose on thin trading and leaned on one stock. Turnover fell by about a fifth from Wednesday, so the gain says more about Safaricom than about broad demand for Kenyan shares.
01 The session in one read
The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) closed higher on Thursday 1 October 2026. Its broadest gauge, the NSE All Share Index (NASI), climbed 1.22 points, or 0.50%, to 246.82.
Market capitalisation, the combined value of all listed shares, rose by KES 20.55 billion (about US$158 million) to KES 4,142.21 billion. That is roughly US$31.9 billion at the CBK rate.
The blue-chip NSE 20 Share Index added just 1.72 points to 4,318.68. The NSE 25 Share Index rose 8.85 points to 6,986.58, and the NSE 10 Share Index gained 5.26 points to 2,740.12. The banking sector index edged up 0.29 points to 289.17.
Trading value was lighter than on Wednesday. Investors traded 12.33 million shares in 12,362 deals, slightly more shares than the day before, but equity turnover fell by KES 106.60 million to KES 432.96 million (about US$3.3 million).
The direction is clear, but the breadth is not. The broad NASI rose more than ten times as much in percentage terms as the NSE 20, which points to Safaricom rather than a market-wide bid. Banks were mixed and turnover fell. The exchange’s daily statistics do not show who was buying, so the role of foreign investors on the day is unknown. A firmer reading needs a second session of gains with higher turnover.
02 The day’s numbers
| Measure | Level | Change | Read |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSE All Share Index (NASI) | 246.82 | +0.50% | Broad market up 1.22 points, led by Safaricom |
| NSE 20 Share Index | 4,318.68 | +0.04% | Blue chips almost flat |
| NSE 25 Share Index | 6,986.58 | +0.13% | Large caps slightly firmer |
| NSE 10 Share Index | 2,740.12 | +0.19% | Ten-stock index edges up |
| Banking sector index | 289.17 | +0.10% | Lenders mixed |
| USD/KES (CBK indicative) | 129.71 | n/a | Shilling steady near 130 per dollar |
| Equity turnover | KES 432.96m | −19.8% | About US$3.3 million; thinner than Wednesday |
Percentage changes for the indices are calculated from the point changes published by the exchange. Turnover dropped from KES 539.56 million (about US$4.2 million) on Wednesday, a fall of about 19.8%.
For the shilling, the CBK’s indicative rate of 129.71 per dollar is the reference used by banks and businesses. Rio Times · Live Market Intelligence
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Instrument Last Change YoY Prev. High Low Volume
SPX
7,751
+0.29%
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NDX
29,799
+0.93%
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DJI
53,810
+0.03%
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RUT
3,041
+0.46%
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US10Y
4.6760
-0.17%
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VIX
14.60
-4.45%
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DAX
26,331
-0.23%
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FTSE
10,833
-0.10%
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CAC
8,675
-0.46%
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STOXX
659.48
-0.16%
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NIKKEI
67,524
+0.83%
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HSI
25,440
-0.83%
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KOSPI
6,579
+3.68%
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CSI300
4,691
+0.58%
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NIFTY
24,436
-0.15%
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TSX
36,619
+0.39%
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GOLD
4,461
+1.78%
+33.20%
4,383
4,503
4,421
139,824
SILVER
65.59
+1.26%
+73.05%
64.77
66.98
64.81
46,406
03 Why it moved: Safaricom’s weight and a quiet tape
Safaricom is the single biggest driver of Kenya’s broad index. The company runs a mobile network and M-Pesa, the mobile-money service most Kenyans use to pay and send money. Its 1.39% gain alone did much of the work for the NASI.
The NSE 20 tells a different story. It is a price-weighted index of 20 blue chips, so a big company does not automatically dominate it. Its near-flat close suggests that most large stocks did little on Thursday.
The banks illustrate the split. Standard Chartered Bank Kenya rose 1.50% and KCB Group 0.82%, but Co-operative Bank fell 0.54% and NCBA 0.56%. Equity Group, the most traded lender, added just 0.24%.
There was no clear policy trigger in the session. The Central Bank Rate stands at 8.75%, according to the CBK. Inflation data released on Wednesday were firmer than in August, which can reduce the room for lower interest rates.
04 The data behind the day
Inflation (KNBS), released Wednesday 30 September. The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) said annual inflation was 6.8% in September 2026, up from 6.6% in August. The consumer price index rose 0.4% in the month, to 156.47 from 155.85.
What drove prices. Food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 9.5% on the year and transport 15.6%. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels rose 3.2%. Together, these three groups make up more than 57% of the consumer basket, KNBS said.
Why it matters for investors. Rising food and transport costs squeeze household budgets. That can weigh on consumer stocks such as brewers and retailers. East African Breweries fell 1.03% on Thursday, although the exchange data do not explain the reason.
The currency. A stable shilling keeps import costs predictable. For a foreign visitor, 1,000 shillings is worth about US$7.70 at Thursday’s CBK rate.
05 The day’s movers
| Driver | Close | Change | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safaricom (SCOM) | KES 36.40 (US$0.28) | +1.39% | Most traded stock: 3.81 million shares |
| Standard Chartered Kenya (SCBK) | KES 322.00 (US$2.48) | +1.50% | Best performer among large banks |
| KCB Group (KCB) | KES 92.00 (US$0.71) | +0.82% | 293,764 shares traded |
| Equity Group (EQTY) | KES 105.00 (US$0.81) | +0.24% | 1.27 million shares, most traded bank |
| East African Breweries (EABL) | KES 287.00 (US$2.21) | −1.03% | Brewer gives up KES 3.00 |
| Co-operative Bank (COOP) | KES 36.90 (US$0.28) | −0.54% | 293,408 shares traded |
Safaricom and Equity Group together accounted for about 5.1 million of the 12.33 million shares traded on Thursday. That concentration is typical for Nairobi, where a handful of names provide most of the liquidity.
The Nairobi Securities Exchange’s own stock was also busy. NSE plc traded 1.31 million shares and slipped 0.16% to KES 30.30 (US$0.23). KenGen, the power producer, was unchanged at KES 10.70 (US$0.08) on 1.01 million shares.
Among smaller names, Kenya Pipeline Company rose 0.44% to KES 9.04 (US$0.07), and CIC Insurance gained 1.82% to KES 5.04 (US$0.04). Kenya Power slipped 0.22% to KES 23.05 (US$0.18).
06 The regional scoreboard
| Index | Country | Change |
|---|---|---|
| EGX30 | Egypt | +2.24% |
| NSE All Share Index | Kenya | +0.50% |
| NSE 20 Share Index | Kenya | +0.04% |
| Satrix 40 ETF (Top 40 tracker) | South Africa | −0.98% |
Egypt was the strongest of the markets in our table, with the EGX30 rising 2.24% to 53,055.03 points. Kenya’s gain was modest by comparison.
In Johannesburg, the Satrix 40 exchange-traded fund, which tracks South Africa’s Top 40 index, fell 0.98%. Kenya’s market moves largely on local factors, so the split with South Africa is not unusual.
07 The technical picture
The NASI’s close at 246.82 leaves it 1.22 points above Wednesday’s level. The more useful signal is turnover: a rise on falling turnover is weaker than one backed by heavier trading.
For the NSE 20, the 4,318.68 close is almost unchanged. Investors looking for a broader rally will want to see the blue-chip index join the NASI on a day of higher turnover.
For the shilling, the CBK’s daily indicative rate, now 129.71 per dollar, is the figure to watch.
08 What to watch
- Friday’s session: Whether Safaricom extends its gain and whether turnover recovers from Thursday’s KES 432.96 million
- US jobs report, Friday 2 October: Strong US data can lift the dollar and US yields, which tends to weigh on frontier markets such as Kenya
- Inflation follow-through: September’s rise to 6.8% puts the CBK’s next policy decision in focus; the Central Bank Rate is 8.75%
- 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 price data: 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 Thursday 1 October 2026 it rose 0.50% to 246.82.
What is the NSE 20 Share Index?
It is a price-weighted index of 20 large Kenyan blue-chip companies. It gained 0.04% to 4,318.68 on 1 October 2026.
Why did Kenyan stocks rise on 1 October?
Safaricom, the largest listed company, rose 1.39% to KES 36.40 (US$0.28) and lifted the broad index, while banks were mixed and turnover fell.
What was the Kenyan shilling exchange rate?
The Central Bank of Kenya’s indicative rate was 129.71 shillings per US dollar on 1 October 2026.
What is Kenya’s inflation rate?
Annual inflation was 6.8% in September 2026, up from 6.6% in August, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
Source: Nairobi Securities Exchange market statistics, as of Thursday 1 October 2026; exchange rate and Central Bank Rate from the Central Bank of Kenya; inflation from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics; regional figures from RT live market data.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error
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