The Nairobi Securities Exchange Plc (NSE) is pleased to announce the successful execution of trades under the Sponsored Access arrangement between Absa Securities Limited (Kenya) and Absa Bank South Africa. This landmark transaction marks a major stride in enhancing regional market connectivity, investor access, and the use of smart trading infrastructure.
This development follows the provisions of Guideline 4.8 of the NSE Direct Market Access Guidelines, 2019. The arrangement enables Absa Bank South Africa, as a sponsored participant, to access the NSE trading infrastructure directly through Absa Securities Limited, a licensed trading participant. The successful go-live aligns with the NSE’s strategic objective of revitalizing markets and harnessing technology to drive growth, deepen liquidity, and improve the efficiency of the capital markets ecosystem.
Commenting on the milestone, the NSE Chief Executive Officer stated:
“This is not only a win for the NSE, but for the broader region. The successful deployment of Sponsored Access by Absa is a powerful signal of investor confidence and technological readiness. It speaks directly to our strategic agenda to revitalize the market and leverage technology to attract a broader range of participants, including regional and global investors.”
“This milestone reflects Absa’s commitment to advancing market connectivity and innovation across the continent. Through our Sponsored Access arrangement, we are helping to create more efficient and transparent pathways for investors to participate in African capital markets. It is a tangible example of how regional collaboration and technology can deepen liquidity and unlock new opportunities for growth,” said Merlin Rajah, Head of Electronic Sales at Absa CIB.
Sponsored Access allows qualifying participants to route their orders to the NSE’s trading system through a sponsoring broker, under a tightly controlled and compliant framework. This model enhances speed, transparency, and operational efficiency while maintaining regulatory oversight.