For years, African investors eager to profit from the artificial intelligence boom have largely had one option: send their money overseas. Kenya now wants to change that.
The Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) plans to launch East Africa’s first artificial intelligence-focused exchange-traded fund (ETF), giving investors access to some of the companies driving the global AI revolution through a product traded on the local exchange. The fund is expected to debut before the end of 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
If successful, the ETF would represent more than a new investment product. It would signal that African capital markets are beginning to compete for a share of one of the world’s biggest wealth-creation stories instead of watching it unfold from the sidelines.
NSE Chief Executive Frank Mwiti said the exchange wants to create a fund whose underlying portfolio reflects companies with direct exposure to artificial intelligence. Potential reference companies include Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic, all of which have become central players in the global AI race.
Artificial intelligence has become one of the strongest forces driving global financial markets over the past two years.
