KPC debuts on NSE as Ruto officiates historic bell ringing ceremony
KPC commenced trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange [NSE] at an opening price of KES 9.30 per share, signaling strong investor interest as the company formally entered the capital markets
NAIROBI, March 10, 2026 – Kenya Pipeline Company [ KPC ], a public limited company [PLC] today marked its historic official listing on the Nairobi Securities Exchange [NSE] making it one of the exchange’s top ten largest companies by market capitalisation.
KPC commenced trading on the Nairobi Securities Exchange [NSE] at an opening price of KES 9.30 per share, signaling strong investor interest as the company formally entered the capital markets.
The listing, which is the first privatisation under Kenya Kwanza government and ended the bourse’s listing drought since 2008, was commemorated through a ceremonial bell ringing officiated by President William Samoei Ruto at the NSE Trading Floor in Nairobi.
The ceremony follows the successful completion of the Kenya Pipeline Company Initial Public Offering [IPO] that recorded a 105.7 percent oversubscription to raise Kshs 112.374 billion, underscoring strong investor confidence in the company and Kenya’s economic prospects.
Speaking during the ceremony, Ruto said the listing of KPC is a powerful signal of strength, confidence, and maturity of our economy and represents a major step in broadening citizen participation, democratising the ownership of strategic national assets and strengthening Kenya’s capital markets.
“This has been Kenya’s first fully electronic Public Offer with all applications submitted digitally, making it a truly paperless and modern IPO. It attracted more than 70,000 ordinary Kenyan investors, achieving one of its most important objectives; broadening ownership and giving more citizens the opportunity to participate directly in the growth of our national enterprises.” said Ruto.
“Equally significant is the participation of the Government of Uganda and the Government of Rwanda. This now makes Kenya Pipeline Company a strategic national and regional enterprise and reflects the deepening economic integration within the East African Community.” added Ruto.
Ruto underscored that the proceeds of the KPC IPO have opened an opportunity for the country to shift towards a more sustainable model of financing infrastructural development and access to Kshs 1.2 trillion in long-term resources for financing of various infrastructure programmes.
“Unlike previous privatisation proceeds that were absorbed into the government’s general budget, the proceeds of this IPO as well as future privatisation transactions will provide capital to the National Infrastructure Fund, which I signed into law. This is momentous because it marks a strategic shift in how Kenya finances development moving away from a framework in which infrastructure is financed by debts and taxes to one in which infrastructure becomes an inevitable asset capable of attracting domestic and international long-term capital.” said the President.
Also speaking at the event, Kenya Pipeline Company PLC Board Chair, Faith Bett-Boinett, pledged the Board’s commitment to steer the company to greater heights as it transitions into a publicly traded regional energy infrastructure company.
“To our new shareholders: This is your company. We pledge to steer it with integrity, with transparency, and with an unwavering focus on delivering value.” Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Kenya Pipeline Company PLC Managing Director, Joe Sang said the company’s listing cements a legacy built over 53 years of operational excellence.
“This listing is not driven by sentiment. It is anchored in strong leadership, robust cash flows [Kshs 18 billion], disciplined cost management, operational resilience, zero debt [US$ 350bln syndicated loan was paid ahead of time], unqualified audit opinion [3 years in a row] and a solid track record of paying dividends. We are the organisation that was voted the best company in Kenya in 2025. We are not listing from weakness. We are listing from strength.”
Nairobi Securities Exchange [NSE] Chairman, Kittony Kiprono, said the listing marks an important milestone for Kenya’s capital markets and reinforces Nairobi’s position as a regional investment hub.
“The listing of KPC PLC provides a transparent platform for investors to participate in the ownership of strategic national assets while strengthening the governance and market discipline that underpin dynamic capital markets. Transactions of this scale deepen our market, elevate the NSE’s standing within the global investment community, and support Kenya’s journey from a frontier market toward emerging market status. The strong participation from across East Africa also reflects growing regional confidence and highlights Nairobi’s role as a gateway for investment and capital formation in the region,” said Kiprono.
The event brought together senior government officials, regulators, institutional investors, industry leaders, and capital markets stakeholders. It featured remarks from leaders across government and the capital markets ecosystem as well as a panel discussion on the role of Privatisation in Accelerating Wealth Creation.
As one of the region’s most strategic energy infrastructure companies, KPC PLC plays a vital role in the safe, reliable, and efficient transportation and storage of petroleum products across Kenya and the wider East African region. The listing positions the company to strengthen its regional footprint, expand its infrastructure capacity, and continue supporting economic growth and energy security in the region.
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