President William Ruto during an event on January 4, 2026/PCS
President William
Ruto has officially announced that the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC)
will be listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) this January,
opening the door for ordinary Kenyans and investors to buy shares and
benefit from its ownership.
According to the
Head of State, the listing is part of his administration’s broader
plan to unlock value from public assets, deepen Kenya’s capital
markets and allow citizens to directly benefit from the country’s
economic growth.
Ruto urged Kenyans
to take advantage of the opportunity, saying the move would enable
ordinary citizens to own a stake in one of the country’s most
profitable state corporations.
“We have said the
shares will be sold to everyone. Even if you have Sh200 or Sh300,
come and buy, so that when profits are announced, you are part of it.
You take your share and use it to grow your business,” the
President said during an event in West Pokot.
He stated that this
was about giving Kenyans a chance to invest, grow their wealth and
share in the benefits of national development.
KPC plays a critical
role in the transportation and storage of petroleum products across
the country and the wider region, making it one of the most strategic
assets in the energy sector.
Ruto’s
announcement follows earlier commitments by his administration to
partially privatise KPC through a stock market listing.
In previous remarks,
Ruto said the government intended to sell part of its shareholding in
selected state-owned enterprises to raise capital, improve efficiency
and reduce reliance on public borrowing.
He identified KPC as
one of the firms suitable for listing due to its strong balance sheet
and consistent profitability.
Last year, Ruto said
the listing would also help revive activity at the NSE by introducing
a large, high-value company that could attract both local and foreign
investors.
“We want our
capital markets to grow and become a strong engine for investment and
job creation,” he said at the time.
He confirmed that
the listing would allow both local and international investors,
including East African partners such as Uganda, to co-invest in KPC,
expanding regional participation in strategic infrastructure.
Treasury officials
led by Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi have previously explained that
listing KPC would raise funds to support the company’s expansion
plans.
This includes
regional infrastructure projects and diversification into related
energy services, while improving transparency and corporate
governance through public ownership.
The government has
also indicated it will retain a significant stake in the company to
safeguard national interests, even as shares are offered to the
public.
The planned KPC
listing forms part of a wider privatisation and economic reform
programme aimed at boosting private-sector participation,
strengthening public finances and expanding opportunities for Kenyans
to invest in the country’s development.
If completed as
scheduled, the KPC share offer will mark one of the most significant
listings at the NSE in recent years, signalling renewed confidence in
Kenya’s capital markets.
When a company is NSE, it means the company’s shares are
officially admitted for trading on the stock market, allowing the
public to buy and sell ownership stakes in that company.
In simple terms, it means the company becomes partly owned by the
public.
The company sells a portion of its shares to investors through an
Initial Public Offering (IPO) or a later listing.
Anyone who buys the shares becomes a shareholder and part-owner of
the company.
Once listed, the company’s shares are traded on the NSE on
trading days.
Investors can buy or sell shares through licensed stockbrokers at
market prices.
Listing also helps a company raise money to fund expansion, repay
debt, invest in infrastructure, or improve operations, without
borrowing.
Being listed boosts a company’s public profile and trust, making
it easier to attract investors, lenders, and business partners.
Investors may benefit through dividends (a share of of the
company’s profits and capital gains if the share prices rises.
A listed company must follow strict rules set by the Capital
Markets Authority (CMA) and NSE.
This includes publishing audited financial statements, making
public important information (profits, losses, major decisions) and
pholding corporate governance standards.