Safaricom is working with the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) to bring government bond investment opportunities to mobile users, potentially expanding Ziidi Trader beyond shares on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).

Group CEO Peter Ndegwa disclosed the discussions on October 27, 2026, while speaking at the launch of Safaricom’s 2026 Sustainable Business Report at the Michael Joseph Centre in Nairobi. His remarks referred to expanding access to fixed-income investments, while reporting on the announcement identified government bond trading through My OneApp as the proposed next step.

Safaricom has not announced a start date, a minimum investment, trading fees or instructions for purchasing government bonds on Ziidi Trader.

What Peter Ndegwa said about government bonds

Ndegwa discussed how Safaricom has made it easier for people to buy NSE-listed shares through Ziidi Trader, without having to navigate the paperwork traditionally associated with stockbroking.

He then said Safaricom was working with the Central Bank to explore how customers could also access the fixed-income side of investing.

The comments came during a broader discussion about financial inclusion and Safaricom’s shift from payments into saving, investing and insurance.

Ndegwa confirmed the CBK discussions, but did not lay out a finished government bond product. Important details will depend on subsequent announcements from Safaricom, CBK and any participating market intermediaries.

How government bonds could work on My OneApp

Ziidi Trader already allows eligible customers to buy and sell NSE shares through Safaricom’s My OneApp, with M-PESA integrated into the investment experience.

The platform has recorded strong growth since its launch in February 2026.

According to Safaricom’s FY26 Sustainable Business Report, the platform attracted 511,000 customer opt-ins by March 31, 2026.

Six months later, Safaricom’s HY27 Investor Presentation reported approximately one million Ziidi Trader opt-ins as of September 2026, nearly double the earlier figure.

The growing registration base highlights the platform’s potential reach as Safaricom works with the Central Bank of Kenya to introduce government bond trading.

However, the proposed government bond service has not yet launched, and Safaricom has not announced its investment minimum or launch date.

Extending that model to government bonds could simplify access to an investment class that has traditionally required a separate central securities account or an intermediary.

A Treasury bond is money lent to the Government of Kenya. Most conventional fixed-rate bonds pay interest every six months, with principal repaid at maturity unless the bond has a different repayment structure. Bonds can also be bought and sold on the secondary market, where prices fluctuate.

However, the planned My OneApp offering has not been explained in enough detail to establish whether customers will participate in new CBK auctions, trade existing bonds, or both. It is also unknown how bond ownership and settlement would be recorded.

Will Ziidi Trader lower the KSh 50,000 bond minimum?

This is one of the biggest unanswered questions.

Under CBK’s current Treasury securities rules, the standard noncompetitive bid minimum is KSh 50,000. Investors can currently access government bond auctions through DhowCSD, CBK’s digital securities platform.

Ziidi Trader has already made small-value share purchases more accessible. But that does not mean government bonds on the platform will start at KSh 100, KSh 500 or any other assumed amount.

In January 2026, Business Daily reported that the National Treasury was developing a separate retail bond programme with a proposed KSh 500 minimum, potentially for 2027. No official link has been established between that proposal and Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader discussions.

From M-Akiba to Ziidi Trader: Kenya has tried mobile bonds before

Safaricom’s involvement in mobile government bond investing is not new.

In 2015, Safaricom announced plans for M-Akiba, a government bond designed to reach ordinary Kenyans through mobile phones. The programme went on to launch in 2017.

M-Akiba reduced the entry point to KSh 3,000, far below the conventional KSh 50,000 threshold. The retail infrastructure bond offered a 10% annual coupon, payable twice a year, according to the Capital Markets Authority’s account of the programme.

M-Akiba is no longer available for new investments. Its bond issues matured in 2020, and there has been no new active M-Akiba bond offering.

The programme’s closure does not mean every former investor collected their money. In an October 2025 notice, the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC) asked holders of M-Akiba 1 and M-Akiba 2 who had not received principal or interest payments to contact it.

The proposed Ziidi Trader service could revive the goal of making government debt accessible by phone. Safaricom and CBK have not established that connection or announced whether the new service will use the same structure.

What investors still need to know

The proposed government bond feature raises several practical questions:

Question Position as of October 28, 2026
Are government bonds available through Ziidi Trader? No launch announced
Has Safaricom confirmed work with CBK? Yes, on fixed-income access
Is there a confirmed launch date? No
What is the minimum purchase? Not disclosed
Will investors buy new issues or trade existing bonds? Not disclosed
What fees and taxes will apply? Not disclosed for the proposed service
Will a separate DhowCSD account be required? Not disclosed

The method of investing matters as much as the app interface. Investors will need to understand the available securities, the purchase price, coupon income, applicable withholding tax, maturity dates and the cost of selling before maturity.

Government bonds are not the same as money market fund savings. A fixed-rate bond can provide predictable coupon payments, but its market price can fall when yields rise. Selling before maturity can therefore produce a loss, even if the bond continues making the scheduled interest payments.

How to buy government bonds in Kenya today

Investors do not need to wait for Ziidi Trader to begin investing in Kenyan Treasury bonds.

CBK already provides access through its DhowCSD portal and mobile app. Investors can register, review current government bond prospectuses, submit eligible auction bids and pay for successful allocations.

Our guide to Treasury bonds in Kenya explains the process, bond types, coupon payments, yields and taxes.

You can also use the free Kenya Treasury Bond Calculator to estimate bond prices, interest payments, after-tax returns and the possible effect of selling before maturity.

For readers interested in the app’s existing investment features, see our Ziidi Trader guide.

Safety reminder: Safaricom says the official Ziidi Trader service is accessed through My OneApp → Financial Services → Ziidi Trader. Avoid unofficial websites claiming to sell Ziidi Trader bonds or asking you to transfer funds to personal accounts. Read our guide to Ziidi Trader scams and fake websites.

The bottom line

Safaricom’s talks with CBK point to a possible new route for Kenyans to invest in government bonds through My OneApp. If implemented, the service could extend Ziidi Trader’s simplified investment experience from NSE shares into fixed income.

But there is no confirmed launch date, investment minimum or fee schedule. M-Akiba provides useful historical context, not a template for the new product: it has been inactive since its issues matured in 2020.

For now, investors who want to buy government bonds can use the existing DhowCSD route. The next meaningful update will come when Safaricom and CBK publish the proposed service’s terms or make the feature available.

FAQs

Can I buy government bonds on Ziidi Trader now?

No. As of October 28, 2026, Safaricom has discussed working with the Central Bank of Kenya to expand access to fixed-income investments, but government bond trading has not been launched on Ziidi Trader.

Did Safaricom announce a launch date for government bonds on My OneApp?

No launch date was announced at the October 27, 2026, Sustainable Business Report event.

What will be the minimum investment for Ziidi Trader government bonds?

Safaricom has not disclosed a minimum investment. The standard CBK noncompetitive minimum for Treasury securities is currently KSh 50,000, but that does not establish what the proposed Ziidi Trader service will require.

Is Ziidi Trader replacing M-Akiba?

Safaricom has not described Ziidi Trader as an official replacement for M-Akiba. M-Akiba's bond issues matured in 2020, and it is no longer an active route for buying new government bonds.

How can I buy Kenyan Treasury bonds today?

You can open a CBK DhowCSD account and participate in eligible Treasury bond auctions, or use an authorised intermediary. Check the current CBK prospectus for requirements and payment deadlines.