Kenya NASI Gains 0.2% as Turnover Jumps 44% | Kenya Market Report, Oct 2

01 The session in one read

The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) closed higher on Friday 2 October 2026. Its broadest gauge, the NSE All Share Index (NASI), rose 0.50 points, or 0.20%, to 247.32. It was the second straight daily gain after Thursday’s 0.50% rise.

Market capitalisation, the combined value of all listed shares, rose by KES 8.31 billion (about US$65 million) to KES 4,150.52 billion (about US$32 billion). Conversions in this report use the RT rate of 128.70 shillings per US dollar.

The NSE 20 Share Index added 4.92 points to 4,323.60. The NSE 25 Share Index rose 14.90 points to 7,001.48, and the NSE 10 Share Index gained 9.93 points to 2,750.05. The banking sector index edged up 0.42 points to 289.59.

Activity was heavier than on Thursday. Investors traded 16.06 million shares in 12,517 deals, against 12.33 million shares in 12,362 deals the day before. Equity turnover rose by KES 189.84 million (about US$1.5 million) to KES 622.80 million (about US$4.8 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 432.96 million (about US$3.4 million) on Thursday, a gain of about 43.8%. The USD/KES change compares the RT rate of 128.70 with 128.71 on Thursday; a higher number means a weaker shilling.

The CBK itself posted an indicative rate of 129.76 per dollar on its website on 2 October, about 0.8% above the market-data figure, so rates quoted by banks may differ.
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03 Why it moved: heavy banks, steady Safaricom

Safaricom drew the most trading. The company runs a mobile network and M-Pesa, the mobile-money service widely used in Kenya to pay and send money. The stock rose 0.41%, and 3.63 million shares changed hands.

Banks were among the gainers. Equity Group rose 0.48% to KES 105.50 (US$0.82), KCB Group 0.54% to KES 92.50 (US$0.72) and Co-operative Bank 0.41% to KES 37.05 (US$0.29). Equity was the most valuable trade of the day, at roughly KES 178 million (about US$1.4 million).

Diamond Trust Bank was unchanged at KES 189.00 (US$1.47), but about 519,000 shares traded, worth roughly KES 98 million (about US$0.8 million). Standard Chartered Bank Kenya slipped 0.78% to KES 319.50 (US$2.48), giving back part of Thursday’s gain, and NCBA fell 0.85%.

There was no clear policy trigger in the session. The Central Bank Rate stands at 8.75%, according to the CBK, and the next decision comes on Wednesday. Investors in bank shares watch that decision closely, because lending rates and funding costs follow it.

04 The data behind the day

Rates (CBK). The CBK’s Monetary Policy Committee last met on 11 August 2026 and kept the Central Bank Rate at 8.75%. Its next meeting is on Wednesday 7 October 2026. KESONIA, the overnight interbank rate, was 8.7505% on 1 October.

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. Food and non-alcoholic drinks rose 9.5% on the year and transport 15.6%. Firmer inflation can reduce the room for rate cuts, which is the question hanging over Wednesday’s meeting.

US jobs (BLS). The US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that employers added 29,000 jobs in September and that unemployment was 4.2%. The report came at 8:30 a.m. New York time, which is 3:30 p.m. in Nairobi, after the NSE had closed at 3:00 p.m. Any reaction in Kenyan stocks comes on Monday at the earliest.

Calendar check. The RT economic calendar listed no scheduled Kenyan data releases for 2 October.

The currency. A stable shilling keeps import costs predictable. For a foreign visitor, 1,000 shillings is worth about US$7.77 at Friday’s RT rate.

05 The day’s movers

Safaricom, KenGen and Equity Group together accounted for about 7.03 million of the 16.06 million shares traded on Friday. Those three names made up about 44% of the volume.

The Nairobi Securities Exchange’s own stock rose 0.17% to KES 30.35 (US$0.24) on 314,385 shares. East African Breweries was almost flat, up 0.09% to KES 287.25 (US$2.23). Among smaller names, Kenya Airways slipped 0.69% to KES 5.72 (US$0.04) and Sameer Africa fell 1.45% to KES 17.05 (US$0.13).

06 The regional scoreboard

Nigeria’s NGX All-Share Index fell 0.16% to 250,808.27 points on Friday, its first session after the Independence Day holiday. The change is measured against Wednesday 30 September, when it closed at 251,211.67, because the exchange was closed on 1 October.

Kenya’s modest gain contrasts with Nigeria’s small fall. Each market moves largely on local factors, so a split of this size is not unusual.

07 The technical picture

The NASI’s close at 247.32 leaves it 0.50 points above Thursday’s level. The more useful signal is turnover: a rise backed by heavier trading is stronger than one on a quiet tape, and Friday’s KES 622.80 million (about US$4.8 million) is above Thursday’s KES 432.96 million (about US$3.4 million).

For the NSE 20, the 4,323.60 close is modestly higher. Investors looking for a broader rally will want to see more stocks rise than fall, which did not happen on Friday.

For the shilling, the rate of 128.70 per dollar is the level to watch around the rate decision.

08 What to watch

• Monday’s session: Whether Safaricom and the banks extend their gains and whether turnover holds above Friday’s KES 622.80 million (about US$4.8 million)
• CBK rate decision, Wednesday 7 October: The Central Bank Rate is 8.75%; annual inflation was 6.8% in September
• US data reaction: Friday’s US jobs report came after the Nairobi close, so frontier markets such as Kenya price it in from Monday
• 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 Friday 2 October 2026 it rose 0.20% to 247.32.

What is the NSE 20 Share Index?

It is an index of 20 liquid, well-performing Kenyan companies. It gained 0.11% to 4,323.60 on 2 October 2026.

Why did Kenyan stocks rise on 2 October?

Safaricom rose 0.41% to KES 36.55 (US$0.28) on the day’s heaviest volume, and Equity Group and KCB also gained. More stocks fell than rose, so the lift was narrow.

What was the Kenyan shilling exchange rate?

Market data from RT put the rate at 128.70 shillings per US dollar on 2 October 2026, against 128.71 the day before. The Central Bank of Kenya’s own indicative rate was 129.76.

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

The Monetary Policy Committee meets on Wednesday 7 October 2026. The Monetary Policy Committee held the Central Bank Rate at 8.75% on 11 August 2026.

Source: Nairobi Securities Exchange market statistics, as of Friday 2 October 2026; Central Bank Rate and MPC date from the Central Bank of Kenya; inflation from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics; US jobs data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics; Nigeria index 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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