The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) ended the week on July 24, 2026, on a positive trajectory, anchored by strong demand across manufacturing, insurance, and tier-one banking counters.
The benchmark NASI (NSE All Share Index) edged up by 0.37% week-on-week to close at 233.47 points, while the price-weighted NSE 20 Share Index surged 1.13% w/w to finish at 3,997.50 points. Concurrently, total market capitalization gained KSh 12.35 billion to settle at KSh 3.918 trillion (~$30.2 billion).
The broader market indices also trended higher, with the NSE 10 Index rising by 0.30% to 2,507.51 points and the NSE 25 Index appreciating by 0.15% to 6,474.41 points.
Market Snapshot & Trading Activity
Trading activity across the exchange showed robust momentum over the week:
- Weekly Share Volume: Increased by 35.76% week-on-week as institutional and retail participation expanded.
- Weekly Equity Turnover: Surged 50.81% week-on-week, reflecting renewed liquidity across blue-chip equities.
- Friday Daily Turnover: Stood at KSh 563.59 million across 11,072 deals, with 15.04 million shares exchanged.
- Foreign Participation: Accounted for 44.4% of Friday's equity turnover, registering a minor net foreign outflow of KSh 87.63 million.
Top Stocks by Turnover Value (Friday Session)
- Stanbic Holdings: Led market turnover with KSh 206.46 million.
- KCB Group: Ranked second with KSh 66.07 million in turnover.
- Kenya Power & Lighting Company (KPLC): Ranked third with KSh 39.54 million traded.
Fixed Income Spotlight: Secondary bond market turnover rose by 38.9% week-on-week to KSh 11.75 billion across 204 deals, led by heavy trading in the 15-year infrastructure bond (FXD1/2018/15yr).
Top Performers & Decliners
Top 5 Gainers
| Stock Name | Ticker | Closing Price (KSh) | Change (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unga Group Ltd | UNGA | KSh 34.05 | +14.07% |
| Olympia Capital Holdings | OCH | KSh 7.18 | +8.13% |
| Kenya Airways Plc | KQ | KSh 5.88 | +4.26% |
| Nation Media Group | NMG | KSh 13.00 | +3.59% |
| WPP Scangroup Plc | SCAN | KSh 2.14 | +3.38% |
Sector Heavyweights & Key Movers
| Stock Name | ISIN Code | Volume Traded | Closing Price (KSh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamson Tea Kenya | KE0000000505 | 55,497 | KSh 172.00 |
| Kapchorua Tea Kenya | KE4000001760 | 4,450 | KSh 365.75 |
| Kakuzi Plc | KE0000000281 | 162 | KSh 436.75 |
| Sasini Ltd | KE0000000430 | 16,533 | KSh 24.05 |
Sector Performance Highlights
Broad market gains were supported across key industry segments:
- Insurance Sector (+1.2%): Emerged as the best-performing sector for the week, boosted by price gains across leading underwriting counters.
- Manufacturing & Allied (+1.1%): Rebounded strongly, spearheaded by Unga Group (+14.07%) following renewed demand for industrial processors.
- Banking Sector (+0.2%): Maintained steady momentum, with the Banking Sector Index advancing to 265.90 points on active accumulation in Stanbic Holdings and KCB Group.
Corporate Actions & Dividend Announcements
1. Interim Dividends Declared
BAT Kenya Plc: Announced an Interim Dividend of KSh 10.00 per ordinary share on July 24, 2026. Books closure is scheduled for August 28, 2026, with payout on September 25, 2026.
2. Agricultural Sector Payouts
Kapchorua Tea Kenya Plc: Announced a proposed First & Final Dividend of KSh 30.00 per share, with books closure set for July 31, 2026.
Key Takeaways for Investors
- Banking & Energy Market Anchors: Heavy trading in Stanbic, KCB, and Kenya Power underscores strong institutional preference for high-yield, liquid counters.
- Manufacturing Momentum: Strong rallies in small-and-mid-cap counters like Unga Group (+14.07%) highlight selective value hunting in FMCG and industrial stocks.
- Macroeconomic Stability: A stable Kenya Shilling (exchanging around KSh 129.53/USD) and healthy central bank foreign reserves (USD 13.85 billion) provide a firm foundation for continued equity market inflows.
