NSE eyes Middle East, Asia investors to boost resilience

NAIROBI, Kenya, April 28 – The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) plans to expand its international investor base into the Middle East and Asia as part of efforts to strengthen market resilience and diversify foreign capital inflows.

NSE Chief Executive Frank Mwiti said the exchange is moving to reduce its traditional reliance on investors from Europe, the UK and the United States by tapping into underutilised markets.

“We have now seen the need for exchanges like ours to be more diversified in terms of foreign market investors,” Mwiti said, adding that the strategy aims to ensure global representation in foreign inflows.

The shift comes as global markets remain sensitive to geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, which have affected investor sentiment across exchanges.

Mwiti said the NSE is working with the government to develop policies that will attract more foreign investors once stability returns, noting that capital typically flows back quickly after geopolitical disruptions ease.

He added that strong domestic participation has supported the exchange’s performance, driven by favourable interest rates, relative currency stability and improved foreign exchange reserves.

The NSE is also expecting increased activity from institutional investors, including banks, infrastructure bonds such as the Kenya Roads Bond, and state-owned firms planning to tap the market this year.

The diversification strategy is expected to cushion the market against external shocks while positioning the NSE as a more globally competitive investment destination.