The NSE Market Cap surged past KSh 2.6 trillion, marking the Nairobi Securities Exchange’s strongest close in years. This milestone reflects the market’s resilience, powered by robust earnings, dividend payouts, and renewed investor appetite.
The NSE All Share Index rose to 165.66, the highest since February 2022, while the NSE 20 Share Index reached 2,670.48, levels unseen since January 2020. The NSE 25 Index climbed to 4,279.56, last achieved in August 2018, and the NSE 10 Index hit a record high of 1,635.00 since its inception in September 2023. Ten listed companies closed at or above their 52-week highs, signaling widespread investor participation.
Indices rallied impressively with NSE 20 up 32.82%, NSE 10 up 26.28%, and NSE 25 up 26.36%. Analysts attribute this to strong corporate earnings, attractive dividend announcements, and renewed foreign inflows on the back of improved macroeconomic stability.
Broad Market Strength
Key counters showed remarkable performance. BAT Kenya traded at KSh 446.00, BOC Kenya at KSh 95.00, Car & General at KSh 31.90, CIC Insurance at KSh 4.00, DTB Bank at KSh 85.00, Eveready East Africa at KSh 1.62, Jubilee Holdings at KSh 290.00, KCB Group at KSh 55.00, and NSE PLC at KSh 11.00.
KCB Group fueled optimism by declaring a record mid-year dividend of KSh 4.00 per share, split between interim and special payouts. Its H1 2025 profit rose 8% to KSh 32.33 billion, and total equity surged past KSh 300 billion, the first in East and Central Africa.
BAT Kenya rallied ahead of a KSh 10.00 interim dividend, its highest in years, with profits up 40% to KSh 2.98 billion. Similarly, Car & General posted an astonishing 920% surge in half-year profits to KSh 637 million, announcing its first interim dividend in two decades.
The week’s top gainers were Eveready East Africa (+52.83%), Car & General (+29.67%), HF Group (+26.30%), Olympia Capital (+21.48%), and Sameer Africa (+17.13%). Eveready notably flipped from a year-to-date loss to a 40.9% gain by Friday’s close.
Outlook
Foreign investors remained net buyers for the second consecutive week, with inflows of KSh 329.21 million and KSh 264.47 million in successive sessions. Traders say high-yielding blue-chip dividends are luring both retail and institutional investors, while easing interest rates are pushing capital from fixed income into equities.
The NSE Market Cap rally also reflects the success of recent market reforms such as the single-share rule, which is driving retail participation. Friday’s market activity highlighted how liquidity and confidence are returning, positioning the exchange for sustained growth.
The exchange now looks set to maintain its momentum, with analysts expecting further upside if corporate earnings remain strong and foreign inflows continue.
