More NSE-listed companies added to the prestigious globally recognised MSCI Indices
More listed companies at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) have been added to the Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) – prestigious globally recognised indices.
The new development marks yet another consecutive inclusion of NSE-listed companies in the prestigious index closely monitored by global investors.
The two additions – the frontier markets index and frontier small cap index are key benchmarks used by international investors to track the performance of listed companies in frontier markets.
The indices are used by MSCI, a global leader in investment services to gauge. According to NSE, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya has been added to the MSCI Frontier Markets Index, joining other leading listed firms in the category.
It now joins the NSE-listed companies represented in the MSCI Frontier Markets Index to six, further reinforcing Kenya’s position as a key player among frontier markets.
The companies include Safaricom, Equity Group Holdings, KCB Group, East Africa Breweries, Cooperative Bank of Kenya and Standard Chartered Bank Kenya.
Housing Finance Group has been included in the MSCI frontier markets small cap index, further strengthening Kenya’s presence in global frontier market benchmarks. This inclusion brings the total number of NSE-listed companies featured in the MSCI Frontier Markets Small Cap Index to eight, reinforcing investor confidence in Kenya’s capital markets.
The companies include British American Tobacco Kenya Plc, Diamond Trust Bank Kenya Limited, Kenya Electricity Generating Company Plc, Kenya Reinsurance Corporation Limited, Kenya Power and Lighting Company Plc, Carbacid Investments Plc, Bamburi Cement Plc and HF Group Plc.
The inclusion follows the MSCI January 2025 review, which demonstrates a strong validation of the improving fundamentals of Kenya’s listed equities market over the past year—a period during which the NSE emerged as the best-performing market in Africa in dollar returns.
The continued recognition of companies listed on NSE in global indices underscores the growing confidence of international investors in the resilience and potential of the local market.
Frank Mwiti, Chief Executive Officer of the NSE, commenting on the new development, said, “We are delighted to witness a strong market rebound that is attracting recognition from the global investment community. The inclusion of two additional companies in the MSCI indices is a clear signal to global institutional investors that Kenya’s listed equities market presents compelling investment opportunities.”
Mwiti said this year, the NSE has developed a comprehensive strategy aimed at increasing investments in listed companies by helping them improve valuations, liquidity, market accessibility, data distribution, and investor relations. These efforts are designed to drive stronger performance of listed securities and attract greater investor participation.”
Reaffirming NSE’s commitment, Mwiti said, as the leading securities exchange in the region NSE will continue to engage actively with the investor community to ensure its listed companies remain attractive to both global and regional investors.
MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. The firm plays a critical role in enabling investors understand and analyse key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios.
The changes will take place at the close of business on February 28.
