Updated 8 November 2026
A CDS account is the electronic account at the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC) that holds your Nairobi Securities Exchange shares and corporate bonds in your own name. You open one through a Central Depository Agent (CDA), meaning a licensed stockbroker, investment bank or custodian bank, by signing the CDS 1 form with your ID or passport, two colour passport photos and your KRA PIN certificate. You can also open or link one on CDSC’s Dosikaa app. CDSC sets no minimum balance.
Checked on 8 November 2026 against CDSC’s investor information, its FAQ, its account opening page and the CDS 1 individual/joint form.
Contents: What it is · Documents · Through a CDA · On Dosikaa · Account types · Statements and costs · FAQ
What a CDS account is and why you need one
Listed shares in Kenya no longer move as paper certificates. CDSC, which is regulated by the Capital Markets Authority, keeps investor records in the Central Depository System, and CDSC’s FAQ says you must open a CDS account if you intend to trade shares listed on the exchange. When you buy shares through a broker, they are credited to your CDS account; when you sell, they are debited from it.
CDSC lists the benefits as secure electronic transfer, no risk of lost, stolen or forged certificates, less paperwork, a nomination facility, the ability to hold equities, bonds and Government securities in one account, automatic credit of bonus and split shares, and one place to update contact details and dividend preferences across every company you hold.
Documents needed to open a CDS account
| Account type | What CDSC says you need |
|---|---|
| Individual or joint | Original national ID or passport plus a copy (foreign documents notarised), two recent colour passport photos, KRA PIN certificate, signed CDS 1 form |
| Company | Certificate of incorporation, board resolution, CR12, and IDs and photos of directors |
| Chama or other registered group | Certificate of registration and a resolution, plus officials’ IDs and photos |
| Junior (child) | Child’s birth certificate plus the parent’s or guardian’s documents |
The CDS 1 form asks for your postal address, code and town. CDSC says these are mandatory if you want statements to reach you, and an email address lets you receive statements free.
Opening a CDS account through a stockbroker or bank
- Choose a Central Depository Agent from CDSC’s published list of CDAs: a licensed stockbroker, investment bank or custodian bank.
- Complete the CDS 1 securities account opening form and sign it in front of the CDA.
- Hand in your ID, photos and KRA PIN certificate.
- Agree a secret question and answer with the CDA, which is used to identify you later. Keep it confidential.
- Receive your CDS account number and a duplicate copy of the opening form for your records.
With this route you still hold your own CDS account at CDSC, registered in your name, and you trade through the broker’s platform, app or office. You hold direct legal title to the shares.
Opening a CDS account on the Dosikaa app
CDSC’s account opening page describes four steps: download Dosikaa from Google Play or the App Store, sign up, choose your preferred stockbroker, and start buying shares. CDSC says opening an account on the app is free and that you can start investing in shares with as little as KSh 500. You can also link an existing CDS account to the app rather than opening a new one. The app offers trading during market hours, market data, watchlists and price alerts, mini-statements and account top-ups and withdrawals.
Joint, junior and company CDS accounts
The same CDS 1 form covers individual and joint accounts. A junior account lets a parent or guardian invest for a child using the child’s birth certificate. Companies, chamas and other registered groups open corporate accounts with their registration documents and a resolution authorising the account. Chamas weighing shares against other options can compare them in our Treasury bills guide, since Government securities can also sit in the same CDS account. KASIB, the stockbrokers’ association, notes that you may hold CDS accounts with more than one broker and can move between brokers by signing a securities transfer form with both the old and new CDA.
Statements and costs of a CDS account
- Monthly statement: sent by CDSC at month-end if your account had activity.
- Interim statement: available on request for KSh 50, according to CDSC’s FAQ.
- SMS statements: send “Register” to 22372; CDSC’s FAQ says each SMS costs KSh 10.
- Email statements: free if you gave an email address; ask your CDA to add or change it.
- Minimum balance: none. A CDS account can sit at zero.
Once your account is open, start with research: our Safaricom vs EABL shares and Jubilee vs CIC shares comparisons show how to read dividends and prices. Brokerage commission and statutory levies on each trade are separate from these CDSC charges, so ask your broker for its rate card before you trade. If you hold old paper share certificates, they must be deposited (immobilised) into a CDS account before you can sell them.
CDS account FAQ
How much does it cost to open a CDS account?
CDSC says opening on the Dosikaa app is free. Ask a broker about any charges before opening through them.
Can I open a CDS account online?
Yes. You can open or link a CDS account on CDSC’s Dosikaa app and choose a stockbroker there.
What documents do I need for a CDS account?
Your ID or passport and a copy, two colour passport photos, your KRA PIN certificate and a signed CDS 1 form.
Is there a minimum balance on a CDS account?
No. CDSC has not set a minimum balance.
Can I open a CDS account for my child?
Yes. A junior account uses the child’s birth certificate plus the parent’s or guardian’s documents.
Can I have more than one CDS account?
Yes. KASIB notes you can hold accounts with different stockbrokers.
Prefer WhatsApp? Follow Business Radar on WhatsApp
Weekly, free. We only use your email for this newsletter and you can unsubscribe in one click. Privacy policy.
