Car & General More Than Doubles in Two Weeks, NSE at Record KSh 4.1Trillion

Car & General PLC extended its extraordinary run with another 42.84% weekly surge to KSh374.25, more than doubling in two weeks, as the broader Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) recorded its strongest week in two months and closed at a record KSh 4.106Trillion in market value.

• The rally in the week ended August 21 added about KSh 110.07Bn in investor wealth, with the NASI gaining 2.75% to 244.69, its best week since week ended June 19th 2026. 
• All major indices closed higher also with the NSE 10 leading with a 3.22% gain to 2,670.91, followed by the NSE 25 at 3.01%, the Banking Index at 2.86% and the NSE 20 at 2.37%.
• The week combined record equity valuations, a sharp recovery in foreign participation and heavy activity across both stocks and bonds, while earnings releases from Equity, DTB, Family Bank, BOC and Crown Paints kept company-specific catalysts firmly in focus.

Banking stocks were central to the rally. KCB gained 7.16% to KSh93.50, Equity Group rose 4.46% to KSh93.50, while Absa added 3.67% to KSh35.25. I&M Holdings jumped 13.26%, while Diamond Trust Bank gained 12.50%. Co-operative Bank bucked the sector trend, falling 5.09%.

Car & General remained the standout counter. Its rise to KSh374.25 followed a 47.81% gain the previous week, taking its two-week advance to about 111%. Carbacid rose 24.67%, Shri Krishana Overseas gained 24.64%, while Flame Tree led the losers with a 6.98% decline.

Safaricom rose 2.68% to KSh36.35, while EABL gained 1.37% and BAT Kenya advanced 7.82%.

Market Activity and Rates

Equity activity surged during the week. Turnover jumped 217.92% to KSh12.45Bn, while volumes rose 221.66% to 321.95Mn shares. The increase was heavily concentrated in Absa, which accounted for KSh6.61Bn, or 53.11% of all equity turnover. Banks overall generated 77.42% of weekly market activity.