Trading at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) is active with most counters, including blue-chip firms like Safaricom, NCBA Group and Standard Chartered Bank Kenya rising.
Over 1.6 million shares have traded since opening of the market, signalling investors shrugging off ongoing demonstrations.
More than half of the 69 listed companies had recorded activity by 11.20am. Other early gainers were Kenya Power, KenGen and CIC Insurance Group.
However, most businesses in Nairobi city centre have remained closed, while others advised staff to work from home on Wednesday.
Defying barricades
In a notable display of youth resolve, Kenyans have once again staged nationwide protests, marking the first anniversary of last year’s Gen Z protests.
Despite blockades, warnings and heavy police presence, young people have taken to the streets in Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and other urbans centres across the country.
Demonstrations have also been held in Kisumu, Kisii, Kajiado, Makueni, Nyeri, Uasin Gishu, Embu, Machakos and Nyandarua counties.
The police have blockaded the roads into the centre of Nairobi, erecting razor-sharp barbed wire to prevent access to the central business district.
However, protesters have found a way in and flooded the streets.
