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How to Buy Safaricom Shares in Kenya 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

15 February 2026

How to Buy Safaricom Shares in Kenya 2026: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

How to Buy Safaricom Shares in Kenya 2026

Want to own part of Kenya’s most profitable company? Safaricom shares are now easier to buy than ever—you can start with as little as Ksh 500 via M-Pesa. In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to buy Safaricom shares in 2026, step-by-step, whether you’re a complete beginner or experienced investor.

Safaricom is Kenya’s telecommunications giant with over 42 million subscribers and the owner of M-Pesa, East Africa’s most successful mobile money platform. The company has consistently paid dividends for over two decades, making it attractive for both income and growth investors.

Why Invest in Safaricom?

Strong Market Position:

  • Kenya’s largest company (Ksh 700+ billion market cap)
  • 65% mobile market share
  • M-Pesa processes over 50% of Kenya’s GDP
  • 42 million active subscribers

Consistent Dividends:

  • Annual dividend: ~Ksh 1.37 per share
  • Dividend yield: 7.8%
  • Better than bank savings (2-3%)
  • Paid directly to M-Pesa

Business Fundamentals:

  • Essential telecommunications service
  • Strong M-Pesa cash flow
  • Regional expansion (Ethiopia, Tanzania)
  • 5G network rollout underway

Current Safaricom Share Price & Statistics

📊 SAFARICOM QUICK STATS (February 2026)

Metric Value
Current Share Price Ksh 17.50
52-Week High Ksh 19.20
52-Week Low Ksh 14.80
Market Cap Ksh 701 billion
Dividend (2025) Ksh 1.37/share
Dividend Yield 7.8%
Minimum Investment Ksh 500

What Different Amounts Buy

Investment Shares Annual Dividend
Ksh 500 28 shares Ksh 38
Ksh 1,000 57 shares Ksh 78
Ksh 5,000 285 shares Ksh 390
Ksh 10,000 571 shares Ksh 782

Dividend History

  • 2025: Ksh 1.37 per share
  • 2024: Ksh 1.35 per share
  • 2023: Ksh 1.30 per share
  • 2022: Ksh 1.45 per share

Payment Schedule:

  • Announced: July
  • Ex-dividend: Early September
  • Payment: Late September
  • Method: Direct to M-Pesa/bank

3 Ways to Buy Safaricom Shares

Quick Comparison

Method Minimum Time Fees Best For Difficulty
Mali App Ksh 500 15 min 1.5% Beginners ⭐ Easy
Hisa App Ksh 100 30 min 1.5% annual Long-term ⭐⭐ Moderate
Broker Ksh 10,000 2-5 days 2-3% Large amounts ⭐⭐⭐ Complex

Choose Mali if:

  • First-time investor
  • Want to start today
  • Have Ksh 500-50,000
  • Prefer mobile-first

Choose Hisa if:

  • Want Kenyan + US stocks
  • Prefer lower ongoing fees
  • Investing 5+ years

Choose Broker if:

  • Investing Ksh 100,000+
  • Want personal advice
  • Need portfolio management

How to Buy Safaricom Shares via Mali App

Mali is the fastest way to buy Safaricom shares—complete the entire process in 30 minutes.

Why Mali?

  • Fastest setup (15-30 minutes)
  • Lowest minimum (Ksh 500)
  • Direct NSE trading (real shares)
  • M-Pesa integration
  • No paperwork
  • CMA licensed

Requirements

  • Smartphone (Android/iPhone)
  • National ID or Passport
  • KRA PIN
  • M-Pesa account with Ksh 500+
  • 15-30 minutes

Step 1: Download Mali App (5 minutes)

Android:

  1. Open Google Play Store
  2. Search “Mali Kenya”
  3. Install app by “Mali Kenya Limited”
  4. Open when done

iPhone:

  1. Open App Store
  2. Search “Mali Kenya”
  3. Tap “Get”
  4. Open when done

Grant camera and storage permissions when prompted.

Step 2: Create Account (10 minutes)

Phone Verification:

  1. Enter M-Pesa number
  2. Tap “Send OTP”
  3. Enter 6-digit SMS code
  4. Tap “Verify”

Set Password:

  • Create strong password (8+ characters)
  • Include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
  • Example: SafCom2026!

Personal Info:

  • Full legal name
  • Email address
  • Date of birth
  • KRA PIN

ID Verification:

For National ID:

  1. Select “National ID”
  2. Photo ID front (clear, well-lit)
  3. Photo ID back
  4. Ensure text is readable

For Passport:

  1. Select “Passport”
  2. Photo bio-data page

Selfie:

  1. Position face in circle
  2. Good lighting, no glasses
  3. Look at camera
  4. Capture

Approval:

  • Takes 5-30 minutes
  • SMS notification when approved
  • Can resubmit if rejected

Step 3: Fund Account (5 minutes)

Deposit Process:

  1. Open Mali app
  2. Tap “Deposit”
  3. Enter amount (minimum Ksh 500)
  4. Choose payment method

M-Pesa Payment:

Automatic:

  1. Tap “Pay with M-Pesa”
  2. App redirects to M-Pesa
  3. Enter PIN
  4. Confirm

Manual:

  1. Go to M-Pesa
  2. Lipa na M-Pesa → Paybill
  3. Business: 558899
  4. Account: Your phone number
  5. Amount: Enter deposit
  6. Enter PIN
  7. Confirm

Money appears in 1-5 minutes.

Step 4: Buy Shares (5 minutes)

Find Safaricom:

  1. Tap “Markets” or “Trade”
  2. Search “Safaricom” or scroll to find
  3. Tap Safaricom (SCOM)

Review Info:

  • Current price: Ksh 17.50
  • Today’s change
  • Daily high/low
  • Volume

Place Order:

  1. Tap green “Buy” button
  2. Enter shares (e.g., 100)
  3. Review cost:
    • Shares: 100 × Ksh 17.50 = Ksh 1,750
    • Fees: Ksh 29
    • Total: Ksh 1,779
  4. Tap “Review Order”
  5. Verify details
  6. Tap “Confirm”
  7. Enter PIN

Execution:

  • Trading hours (9am-3pm): 1-60 minutes
  • After hours: Next trading day at 9am
  • SMS confirmation when complete

Check Portfolio:

  • Tap “Portfolio”
  • See your Safaricom shares
  • Current value updates in real-time

Congratulations—you’re now a Safaricom shareholder!

Understanding Your Investment

What Happened:

  • Your money: Used to purchase shares + fees
  • Your shares: 100 Safaricom shares owned
  • Storage: Electronic CDS account
  • Rights: Dividends, voting, selling

Fee Breakdown:

Item Amount
Shares (100 @ Ksh 17.50) Ksh 1,750
Brokerage (1.5%) Ksh 26.25
NSE fee (0.12%) Ksh 2.10
CDS fee (0.04%) Ksh 0.70
Total Ksh 1,779

Next Steps:

Short-term (24-48 hours):

  • Price will fluctuate (normal)
  • Don’t panic over small changes

Medium-term (6 months):

  • Hold patiently
  • September: Receive dividend (~Ksh 137 for 100 shares)

Long-term (5+ years):

  • Historical growth: 5-10% annually
  • Plus dividends: 7-8%
  • Total expected return: 12-18%/year

Dollar Cost Averaging:

Buy regularly instead of once:

  • Ksh 1,000-2,000 monthly
  • Averages out entry price
  • Removes timing stress
  • Builds wealth consistently

Alternative: Buy via Hisa App

Hisa offers indirect Safaricom exposure through index funds plus international stocks.

Advantages:

  • Also get US stocks
  • Lower ongoing fees
  • Better for long-term
  • Fractional shares

Process:

  1. Download Hisa app
  2. Complete registration
  3. Deposit (Paybill: 400222)
  4. Buy NSE 20 Index Fund
    • Contains Safaricom (~35% of fund)
    • Plus other top Kenyan stocks

When to use:

  • Want both Kenyan and international stocks
  • Prefer diversified approach
  • Investing for 5+ years

Traditional Broker Method

For large investments or those wanting personal service.

Best for:

  • Investments Ksh 100,000+
  • Need personal advice
  • Prefer phone/email support

Top Brokers:

  1. Genghis Capital (Min: Ksh 10,000, Fee: 2.5%)
  2. Faida Investment Bank (Min: Ksh 5,000, Fee: 2.3%)
  3. Apex Africa Capital (Min: Ksh 10,000, Fee: 2.0%)

Process:

  1. Choose broker
  2. Open CDS account (2-5 days)
  3. Submit documents (ID, KRA PIN, etc.)
  4. Fund account (bank transfer)
  5. Place order (phone/email)
  6. Settlement in T+3 days

Cost Comparison (Ksh 100,000):

Platform Total Cost
Mali Ksh 101,660
Traditional Ksh 102,660
Difference Ksh 1,000 more

Apps are cheaper for most people!

Complete Fee Structure

Buying Fees (Mali)

Fee Rate Example (Ksh 10,000)
Brokerage 1.5% Ksh 150
NSE 0.12% Ksh 12
CDS 0.04% Ksh 4
Total 1.66% Ksh 166

Selling Fees

Same structure as buying plus:

  • Capital Gains Tax: 0% (No tax on NSE shares!)

Hidden Costs

  • M-Pesa withdrawal: Ksh 25-50
  • Inactivity fees: None (Mali)
  • Dividend fees: FREE

Fee Minimization

  1. Buy larger amounts less often
    • Ksh 2,000 monthly > Ksh 500 weekly
  2. Hold long-term
    • Fewer transactions = lower fees
  3. Reinvest dividends
    • Use dividend to buy more shares

How to Sell Safaricom Shares

Good Reasons to Sell

✅ Emergency need ✅ Goal achieved ✅ Portfolio rebalancing ✅ Fundamentals changed

Bad Reasons

❌ Price dropped 5-10% ❌ Following rumors ❌ Boredom ❌ Market timing attempts

Selling via Mali

  1. Open “Portfolio”
  2. Select Safaricom
  3. Tap “Sell”
  4. Enter shares to sell
  5. Choose Market or Limit order
  6. Confirm
  7. Wait for execution
  8. Money in wallet (T+3)
  9. Withdraw to M-Pesa

Tax: 0% – No capital gains tax on NSE shares!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: How can I buy shares in Safaricom?

Three ways:

  1. Mali App (Easiest): Download app, verify ID (15 min), deposit via M-Pesa, buy shares (min Ksh 500). Total: 30 minutes.
  2. Hisa: Download Hisa, deposit, buy NSE 20 Index Fund (includes Safaricom).
  3. Broker: Open CDS account, transfer money, place order. Best for Ksh 100,000+.

Requirements: National ID, KRA PIN, M-Pesa, Ksh 500 minimum.

Q2: How much does one Safaricom share cost?

Current price: Ksh 17.50

Including fees: ~Ksh 17.79 per share

Minimum purchase:

  • Mali: Ksh 500 (~28 shares)
  • Hisa: Ksh 100 (fractional)
  • Broker: Ksh 5,000-10,000

Q3: How much does Safaricom pay per share?

Ksh 1.37 per share annually (2025 dividend)

Dividend yield: 7.8%

Payment schedule:

  • Announced: July
  • Paid: September
  • Method: Direct to M-Pesa

Examples:

  • 100 shares = Ksh 137/year
  • 500 shares = Ksh 685/year
  • 1,000 shares = Ksh 1,370/year

Q4: How do I start buying shares in Kenya?

Step-by-step:

  1. Education (1-2 weeks): Learn basics
  2. Finances (1 week): Assess budget
  3. Platform (1 day): Choose Mali/Hisa/Broker
  4. Setup (1 day): Create account
  5. Deposit (1 day): Fund account (Ksh 1,000-5,000)
  6. Purchase (1 hour): Buy first shares
  7. Learn (Months 1-3): Watch and learn
  8. Strategy (Months 2-3): Plan monthly investments
  9. Consistency (Months 4+): Invest regularly

Start with Ksh 1,000-2,000 for learning.

Q5: How much money do I need to start?

Minimum: Ksh 100-500

Recommended:

  • Testing: Ksh 500-1,000
  • Serious: Ksh 2,000-5,000
  • Building: Ksh 10,000-20,000

Best approach: Start with Ksh 1,000-2,000, then add monthly.

Don’t wait to save Ksh 50,000—time in market beats timing!

Q6: Which share is best for beginners?

Safaricom is #1 for beginners

Why:

  • You understand the business (M-Pesa, network)
  • Large, stable company
  • Consistent dividend (7.8%)
  • Liquid (easy to sell)
  • Lower risk

Other good options:

  • Equity Bank
  • East African Breweries
  • KCB Group

Avoid:

  • Small-cap stocks
  • Penny stocks
  • No-dividend companies
  • Recent IPOs

Start with Safaricom, diversify later.

Q7: How much is 100 Safaricom shares?

Cost: Ksh 1,779 (including fees)

What you get:

  • 100 actual shares
  • Annual dividend: Ksh 137
  • Voting rights
  • Shareholder status

5-year potential:

  • Conservative (5% growth): Ksh 2,232
  • Moderate (10% growth): Ksh 2,818
  • Optimistic (15% growth): Ksh 3,518

Plus 5 years of dividends: Ksh 685

Is it worth it? Yes, if:

  • ✅ Learning to invest
  • ✅ Can hold 5+ years
  • ✅ Will add more monthly

Q8: How do I sell Safaricom shares?

Via Mali:

  1. Portfolio → Safaricom → Sell
  2. Enter shares to sell
  3. Choose order type
  4. Confirm
  5. Money in wallet (T+3)
  6. Withdraw to M-Pesa

Tax: 0% – No capital gains tax!

When to sell:

  • ✅ Emergency
  • ✅ Goal achieved
  • ✅ Rebalancing

When NOT to sell:

  • ❌ Small price drop
  • ❌ Following rumors
  • ❌ Trying to time market

Is Safaricom a Good Investment?

Strengths

  1. M-Pesa dominance (42M+ users)
  2. Strong financials (Ksh 73B profit)
  3. 5G expansion (new revenue)
  4. Attractive dividend (7.8% yield)
  5. Potential undervalued (45% below peak)

Risks

  1. Ethiopia losses (not profitable yet)
  2. Competition (Airtel, Telkom)
  3. Regulation (price pressure)
  4. Market maturity (limited growth)
  5. Tech disruption (Starlink, WhatsApp)

Analyst Consensus

BUY Recommendations:

  • Genghis: Target Ksh 21
  • Cytonn: Target Ksh 19.50
  • AIB: Target Ksh 18.50

Average target: Ksh 19.50 (11% upside) Plus dividend: 7.8% Total potential: 19%/year

Verdict

BUY for long-term investors (5+ years)

Perfect for:

  • First-time investors
  • Dividend seekers
  • Risk-averse individuals
  • Long-term holders

Avoid if:

  • Seeking quick riches
  • Short-term trading
  • Need money in 1-2 years

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Not researching: Understand the business first
  2. Investing emergency funds: Only invest surplus
  3. Checking daily: Weekly/monthly is enough
  4. Panic selling: Expect volatility
  5. Not diversifying: Add other stocks eventually
  6. Ignoring fees: Buy larger amounts less often
  7. Not reinvesting dividends: Compound growth

Conclusion: Start Today

You now know exactly how to buy Safaricom shares in Kenya. The process takes just 30 minutes via Mali app.

Key Takeaways:

  • Current price: Ksh 17.50
  • Minimum: Ksh 500
  • Dividend: 7.8% yield
  • Expected return: 12-18%/year

Your Action Plan:

Today:

  1. Download Mali app
  2. Complete registration
  3. Prepare Ksh 1,000-2,000

Tomorrow: 4. Deposit funds 5. Buy your first shares 6. You’re an investor!

This Week: 7. Set up monthly investing 8. Check portfolio weekly only 9. Join investor communities

Remember: The best time to invest was 10 years ago. The second best time is today.

Safaricom won’t make you rich overnight, but it’s a solid foundation for building long-term wealth through consistent investing and dividend reinvestment.

Start now. Your future self will thank you.

Last updated: February 2026. Verify current share prices before investing.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only, not financial advice. Investing carries risk. Consult a qualified advisor before investing.

Also Read: Best Investment Apps in Kenya 2026: Hisa vs Ndovu vs Mali – Complete Comparison

 

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