Safaricom has clarified why it suspended trading on the Ziidi Money Market fund after 3:30 PM.
This follows growing concerns from users complaining about why they can’t buy or sell shares on the money market fund after 3.30 pm and on weekends.
The restrictions are in line with the established rules of trading at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), where trading is governed by strict daily schedules.
Since Ziidi trading was introduced on the M-Pesa app, many Kenyans have developed an interest in investing in the money market fund.
According to experts, trading on the NSE follows stipulated rules, including on-time buying and selling of shares, and before investing, a person must be familiar with these rules.
Why Ziidi Trader Suspends Transactions After 3:30 PM
Ziidi enables customers to manage, grow, and control their finances and wealth, offering free deposits and withdrawals through their M-PESA wallet.
Also Read: Safaricom Adds M-PESA Feature Allowing Users to Buy and Sell NSE Shares Directly
Through Safaricom, the money market fund remains subject to NSE set regulations.
When users try to buy or sell shares after 33.30 pm, they receive a notification saying, ‘the market has been closed’.
Safaricom has responded by stating the trading days and times.
“The market is open Monday-Friday from 9.30 AM-3 PM,” read the statement.
When the market closes in the afternoon, Ziidi Trader systems are programmed to block new buy and sell orders.
Safaricom says this is not a technical fault but a built-in safeguard that ensures all transactions are processed only during authorized trading hours.
According to experts familiar with trading, allowing trades after official hours could expose investors to price manipulation, inaccurate valuations, and settlement risks.
Closing the market at a fixed time helps prevent speculative activity and ensures that all participants operate under the same conditions.
Trading Hours and Market Rules at the NSE
Stock markets across the world operate within fixed hours to ensure fairness, transparency, and orderly trading.
In Kenya, the NSE operates on a structured schedule from Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.
The market opens with a pre-open session in the morning, usually from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., during which brokers can enter and amend orders without trades being executed.
This is followed by continuous trading from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, during which buyers and sellers place orders that are matched in real time.
After 3:00 PM, the exchange enters a closing and post-trade phase, during which final prices are determined, and settlement processes begin.
By 3:30 PM, all active trading activities are concluded for the day. At this point, no new transactions can be executed until the next business day.
According to market analysts, these fixed hours are essential for maintaining market stability.
They allow brokers, regulators, and clearing systems to reconcile trades, manage risks, and prepare accurate records.
Also Read: Safaricom Launches Money Market Fund After CMA Approval
Ziidi Money Market Fund
Safaricom first launched the Ziidi MMF in December 2024 in partnership with Standard Investment Bank and ALA Capital Limited, allowing M-PESA customers to begin investing with as little as Ksh100 while earning competitive daily interest. All deposits and withdrawals are executed directly through M-PESA, with invested funds remaining easily accessible to users.
Since its launch, the fund has grown rapidly, reflecting rising demand for simple, mobile-based investment solutions among retail investors. For the half-year period ending June 30, 2025, the Ziidi MMF reported total investment income of Ksh354.36 million.
Interest income from fixed deposits stood at Ksh194.31 million, followed by Ksh86.34 million from government securities, Ksh73.34 million from call deposits, and Ksh7.96 million from corporate bonds.
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