Ziidi vs Etica Money Market Fund 2026: Fees, Limits and Access Compared

Updated 7 November 2026

Ziidi vs Etica is a choice between two Kenyan money market funds (MMFs) that work in very different ways. Ziidi lives inside M-Pesa: you invest and withdraw from your wallet with no transaction charge. Etica is run by Etica Capital through its own app and website, and can also pay out to a bank account. Both charge a 2% a year management fee, both are regulated by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA), and both pay 15% withholding tax on earnings.

Checked on 7 November 2026 against Safaricom’s Ziidi product page, Ziidi MMF FAQs and Ziidi terms and conditions, plus Etica Capital’s Money Market Fund (KES) key facts and FAQs. Fund terms can change; confirm in the app before you invest. This is not investment advice.

Ziidi vs Etica at a glance

Returns: compare the rate on the day you invest

Both funds publish a rate that changes daily, so any single number goes out of date quickly. Ziidi shows an indicative daily rate in the M-Pesa app and on *334#, and Safaricom says the rate shown is net of the 2% fee. Etica shows an “effective annual yield” which, according to its disclaimer, is net of all fees but before withholding tax.

On 7 November 2026, Etica’s website showed two different effective annual yields for the same KES fund in two separate tickers (17.55% and 10.07%), and gave no date for either. We have therefore not printed a headline rate for either fund. Check both apps on the same day, and compare like with like: either both before tax or both after tax. For a wider view, see our money market fund rates page.

Etica’s FAQ explains how its daily interest is worked out: the annual rate is divided by 365, multiplied by your balance, and then 15% tax is removed. You can test the effect of different rates and amounts in our MMF calculator.

Fees and tax in the Ziidi vs Etica comparison

The headline management fee is the same at 2% a year, and both funds take it out before showing you a rate. Ziidi’s terms also say third-party costs such as trustee, custodian, marketing and administration fees are charged to the fund. Etica lists no initial fee and no lock-in.

The real difference is the cost of moving money. Ziidi deposits and withdrawals to M-Pesa are zero-rated, with no maintenance fee. Etica charges no fee to withdraw to a bank, but a withdrawal to M-Pesa carries a transaction charge that Etica puts at between KSh 4 and KSh 30, shown before you confirm. If you move small amounts often, that charge matters; for large, occasional withdrawals it hardly does.

Tax is the same: 15% withholding tax on interest earned in both funds.

Ziidi vs Etica deposits and withdrawals

Ziidi: open Ziidi in the M-Pesa app or dial *334#, choose Invest, enter the amount and confirm with your M-Pesa PIN. Withdrawals land in M-Pesa instantly, and Safaricom says there is no limit on the number of withdrawals a day. The M-Pesa limits of KSh 250,000 per transaction and KSh 500,000 a day still apply. See our step-by-step guides on depositing into Ziidi and withdrawing from Ziidi.

Etica: open an account in the Etica app or client portal, then deposit by M-Pesa or bank transfer. Add your M-Pesa or bank details in your profile before withdrawing. Up to KSh 250,000 a day can go to M-Pesa instantly, including at night and on holidays; larger sums go to your bank within two working days. Etica also accepts money sent from abroad to its bank accounts, which may suit Kenyans in the diaspora.

Who runs each fund

Safaricom’s terms say its main role in Ziidi is to provide the technology. Licensed fund managers are responsible for investing the money, and KCB Bank (Kenya) is the initial trustee. Etica’s fund is managed by Etica Capital, with Co-operative Bank as trustee and Equity Bank as custodian. In both cases the trustee oversees the scheme and the CMA regulates it. A CMA licence does not guarantee returns: unit prices and yields can go down as well as up.

Ziidi vs Etica: which should you choose?

• Choose Ziidi if you live in M-Pesa, save small amounts often and want free, instant withdrawals. There are no forms, but you cannot withdraw to a bank.
• Choose Etica if you want bank withdrawals, plan to invest larger sums, want a USD fund under the same manager, or are sending money from abroad.
• Use both if you like: many savers keep a small emergency balance in an M-Pesa-linked fund and a larger goal balance in a fund that pays out to a bank.

For how MMFs compare with other options, read MMF vs savings account and MMF vs fixed deposit.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ziidi better than Etica?

Neither is better for everyone. Ziidi is cheaper to move money in and out of through M-Pesa; Etica offers bank withdrawals and a USD option. Compare their daily rates on the same day before choosing.

What is the minimum to invest in Ziidi and Etica?

Safaricom’s current Ziidi FAQ says KSh 10 (some older pages say KSh 100). Etica’s minimum for its KES money market fund is KSh 100.

Do Ziidi and Etica charge withdrawal fees?

Ziidi withdrawals to M-Pesa are free. Etica withdrawals to a bank are free, but withdrawals to M-Pesa cost about KSh 4 to KSh 30.

Are Ziidi and Etica regulated?

Yes. Both are collective investment schemes regulated by the Capital Markets Authority, with bank trustees.