Safaricom’s M-PESA-based stock trading platform, Ziidi Trader, was named Fintech of Year 2026 at the 20th edition of the African Banker Awards held in Congo-Brazzaville.
This award was in recognition of the platform’s role in democratizing access to capital markets by enabling Kenyans to buy and sell shares directly through their mobile phones.
Developed through a partnership between Safaricom and the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), Ziidi Trader is helping lower traditional barriers to investing and expand participation in the stock market among a wider segment of the population.
This recognition comes shortly after another major milestone within Safaricom’s broader digital finance ecosystem.
M-PESA, the company’s flagship mobile money service, was also ranked among the top 100 cross-border payment platforms for 2026 by FXC Intelligence.
FXC Intelligence CEO and Founder Daniel Webber highlighted M-PESA’s transformation across East Africa, noting its expansion beyond the region and its growing role in the daily financial lives of millions of users.
The recognition forms part of FXC Intelligence’s 2026 Cross-Border Payments 100, which highlights leading companies shaping the global payments ecosystem.
Read More:Â M-PESA Named Among 2026 Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Platforms
Ziidi is Safaricom’s investment and wealth management service built for M-PESA customers, designed to make saving and investing more accessible through mobile platforms.
Launched on February 10, 2026, in partnership with the Nairobi Securities Exchange, the platform integrates access to securities markets within a mobile money ecosystem serving over 38 million users.
This significantly broadening participation in formal investment opportunities.
In addition to market access, Ziidi offers a Money Market Fund that allows customers to invest from as little as KSh 100 and earn daily returns tied to prevailing interest rates.
Both deposits and withdrawals are seamlessly processed through M-PESA, ensuring fast and convenient access to funds.
Customers can open and manage their accounts directly via the M-PESA App or by dialing *334#, making the service accessible across both smartphones and feature phones.
Overall, Ziidi brings together savings, money market investing, and capital market access within a single mobile platform.
It aims to reduce traditional barriers to investing by embedding wealth-building tools into everyday mobile transactions and expanding financial inclusion across Kenya.
Fintech of The Year Awards
The Fintech Innovation of the Year Award acknowledges and celebrates the transformative power of financial technology in driving economic growth, financial inclusion, and digital transformation.
In addition, it honours groundbreaking fintech solutions that have revolutionized the financial services industry, providing innovative and accessible financial products and services that cater to the diverse needs of businesses and individuals across Africa.
Furthermore, this award highlights the pivotal role of fintech innovators in reshaping the financial landscape.
It acknowledges  those who have developed and implemented cutting-edge technologies that enhance financial accessibility, efficiency, and security, thereby contributing to the overall advancement of the digital economy.
