Features that define Hisa

Multi-asset accessibility and a clean interface

Hisa's design philosophy focuses on inclusion and simplicity. The app’s layout groups assets into intuitive categories—Kenyan equities, global stocks, ETFs, forex, and commodities—allowing investors to navigate seamlessly between them. The dashboard is responsive, featuring real-time price updates and intuitive toggles for filters such as market cap, sector, and volatility.

Colour-coded charts, sparkline performance graphs, and auto-refreshing data feeds give users confidence in executing trades based on accurate metrics. Investors can access detailed stock profiles, including earnings per share, P/E ratios, dividend history, volume trends, and other key metrics. For instance, with a tap on Safaricom (SCOM), users can review live bids/asks, trade volumes, and a 5-year price chart—all within seconds.

The interface is particularly suited for mobile devices, designed for low-bandwidth environments common in Kenya. Dark mode, Swahili language support, and regional onboarding make the experience local without sacrificing sophistication.

• 6000+ global and local assets

• Kenyan stock focus with real-time NSE integration

• User-controlled sorting by gainers, losers, and sectors

• Highly responsive app even on 3G

• Supports biometric login and multiwallet management

Real-time trading and alerts

One of Hisa's defining features is its ability to provide true real-time execution for Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) trades. Users receive live alerts when stocks hit pre-set thresholds. Would you like to buy KCB Group if it drops below KES 45? Set an alert, and the app will ping you the second it happens. No delays, no middlemen.

Beyond alerts, investors can set conditional orders, including stop-loss and take-profit levels. The app even supports advanced charting with MACD, RSI, Bollinger Bands, and candlestick overlays—tools that retail traders in Kenya rarely had access to before Hisa.

• Customizable watchlists with smart tagging

• Trade simulation mode for beginners

• Push alerts and SMS fallback notifications

• Order types: market, limit, stop, trailing stop

• Chart library for technical analysis

Social investing and community tools

Hisa isn’t just a trading platform—it’s a learning community. Users can follow “Investor Circles,” where influencers, financial coaches, and analysts publish their stock picks and reasoning. Portfolios can be made public or private, encouraging transparency and community engagement.

Weekly Twitter Spaces, in-app AMA sessions, and featured investor challenges (such as growing KES 10,000 to KES 50,000 in 6 months) foster camaraderie. Gamification elements reward users with badges, premium features, and even airtime for milestones achieved.

• Follow top investors and view their trades

• Post trade theses and get peer feedback

• Participate in investment challenges

• Earn loyalty points and unlock courses

• Integrated with Telegram and WhatsApp groups

Regulation and Compliance of Hisa

Hisa operates under the regulatory framework of Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA)—the national body tasked with supervising and licensing all capital market participants. This ensures the platform adheres to strict financial standards for transparency, investor protection, and operational integrity.

• Capital Markets Authority (CMA) Oversight: Hisa is officially registered as a fintech intermediary with the CMA. It complies with the Capital Markets Act, including provisions related to client fund segregation, data privacy, and anti-money laundering (AML).

• Licensed Partners and Custodians: Hisa partners with licensed brokers and custodians approved by the CMA, including Stockbrokers who execute buy/sell orders on the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and Custodian banks that securely hold customer shares and cash balances, ensuring your assets remain protected even if the platform faces disruption.

Available Assets on Hisa

Hisa is more than just a stock trading app—it's a multi-asset investment platform designed to give Kenyan investors access to both domestic and global financial markets. Whether you're looking to build long-term wealth through equities, hedge currency risk with commodities, or speculate on forex movements, Hisa delivers a range of options suited to various financial goals and risk profiles.

1. Kenyan Equities (NSE Stocks)

Hisa offers full integration with the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), providing users with access to a diverse range of listed companies across various sectors, including banking, agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and telecommunications. With real-time trading capability, users can buy and sell stocks such as:

• Safaricom (SCOM): Kenya's telecom giant and most traded stock.

• Equity Group (EQTY): A leading regional bank with consistent growth.

• BAT Kenya (BAT): A high-dividend blue chip favoured by long-term investors.

• Kenya Power (KPLC), KCB Group, and East African Breweries (EABL).

Each stock on Hisa includes:

• Current market price and live chart data.

• Key ratios: P/E, dividend yield, EPS.

• Historical performance up to 5–10 years.

• Trading volume, volatility, and corporate announcements.

This makes it easy for users to compare and analyse Kenyan equities directly on their phones—something previously limited to institutional investors.

2. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

Hisa currently supports the ABSA NewGold ETF (GLD), which is listed on the NSE and tracks the global price of gold. ETFs are important because they allow users to:

• Diversify across commodities without owning physical assets.

• Hedge against Kenyan shilling depreciation or inflation.

• Balance equity-heavy portfolios with a stable commodity base.

More ETFs, including international equity index trackers like S&P 500 or Nasdaq 100 ETFs, are expected to be added soon.

3. Global Stocks

With the click of a button, Hisa users can buy fractional shares of popular global companies. This feature brings Wall Street to Nairobi, democratising global investing. Examples of available companies include:

• Technology: Apple, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Meta (Facebook), Microsoft.

• Consumer: Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Nike, Procter & Gamble.

• Finance: JPMorgan Chase, Visa, Goldman Sachs.

Users can invest with as little as KES 500, making global diversification accessible to low-income investors and first-time investors. All stocks come with performance charts, earnings reports, analyst insights, and real-time pricing in USD.

4. Forex and Commodities

Hisa appeals to more advanced traders by offering foreign exchange (forex) and commodity data. While currently not enabled for active trading, users can monitor:

• Currency pairs: USD/KES, GBP/KES, EUR/USD, USD/JPY.

• Commodities: Crude oil (WTI, Brent), gold, silver, coffee.

In upcoming updates, Hisa plans to allow regulated access to speculative forex and commodities trading in accordance with CMA guidelines.

Use cases include:

• Hedging against forex exposure.

• Short-term speculative trading.

• Diversifying portfolio with inflation-resistant assets.

5. Government Bonds and T-Bills (Coming Soon)

Hisa has announced the integration of Kenyan Treasury Bonds (T-Bonds) and Treasury Bills (T-Bills). These fixed-income securities will offer investors:

• Steady returns from government-issued debt.

• Lower volatility than equities.

• Flexible maturity terms from 91 days to 30 years.

• Minimum investment amounts are accessible through mobile.

Why Pepperstone is a strong alternative

Locally regulated with global strength

While Hisa is excellent for stock investing and education, Pepperstone stands out for offering broader access to global financial markets with professional-grade tools. Crucially, Pepperstone is regulated by Kenya’s Capital Markets Authority (CMA), ensuring full legal compliance and investor protection for users in Kenya.

This local oversight means Pepperstone clients benefit from domestic consumer protections alongside global broker standards—an ideal blend for serious traders.

• Licensed by the CMA for operations in Kenya

• Regulated globally by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), DFSA (Dubai), and CySEC (EU)

• Local legal support and investor recourse are available

Asset diversity and advanced trading

Pepperstone enables trading in multiple asset classes through CFD instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, shares, and cryptocurrencies. This enables Kenyan investors to explore markets beyond the NSE, offering deep liquidity and advanced tools.

Traders can choose platforms like MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, and TradingView for real-time execution, strategy automation, and detailed analytics.

• Over 60 forex pairs, including USD/KES

• Global stock indices like NASDAQ, S&P 500, FTSE

• Precious metals and energy commodities

• Cryptocurrencies (where allowed)

• Fractional share CFDs on US, UK, and AU equities

Execution, cost, and platform edge

Pepperstone provides institutional-grade execution with ultra-low spreads, no deposit/withdrawal fees, and negative balance protection. Its infrastructure includes Equinix servers and top-tier liquidity providers, ensuring trades are fast and reliable.

• No fees for deposits or withdrawals (including M-Pesa)

• Spreads from 0.0 pips on Razor accounts

• Supports algorithmic and copy trading

• 24/5 multilingual support and global research tools

When to choose Pepperstone over Hisa

If you are a more active trader or want access to leveraged products, Pepperstone offers a broader and more technical toolkit than Hisa. While Hisa excels in long-term investing and local education, Pepperstone shines in global market access, execution speed, and professional-grade trading platforms.

• Better for day traders and scalpers

• Supports algorithmic and forex strategies

• Offers deeper liquidity and more instruments

• CMA regulation ensures local trust and legal safety