How to Buy Quickmart Shares in the 2026 NSE IPO

If you’ve never bought shares before, an IPO is one of the easiest ways to start.

You don’t need to learn how a trading screen works, you just fill in an application and pay. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it, what to prepare, and what to do if you miss the deadline.

One thing to know first: this IPO is an offer for sale. Quickmart’s owner is selling half of its existing shares, and Quickmart itself receives none of the money.

If you want the full picture of what you’d be buying, read our companion post, “What Are You Actually Buying in the Quickmart IPO?“, before you apply.

The Deal at a Glance

Item	Detail (as of October 26, 2026)
Company	Quick Mart PLC
What’s on offer	2 billion existing ordinary shares (50% of the company)
Price	Sh7.50 per share, fixed
Minimum application	500 shares (Sh3,750)
After the minimum	Multiples of 100 shares (Sh750 each)
Maximum	None
Offer opens	October 5, 2026, 9:00 a.m.
Offer closes	October 30, 2026, 5:00 p.m. (also the last day retail investors can pay)
Results announced	November 6, 2026
Shares credited and refunds begin	November 11, 2026
Trading starts on the NSE	November 12, 2026

The offer period can be extended or shortened with approval from the Capital Markets Authority, and any change is announced in two national newspapers and on the company’s website. Check the official site before you rely on these dates.

What to Prepare Before You Apply

Do this first, because the slowest part is usually the CDS account.

A CDS account. This is the electronic account where your shares are held. You cannot apply without one. Any licensed stockbroker or investment bank can open it for you, including the placing agents SBG Securities and Dyer & Blair. If you already have a CDS account from a past IPO or share purchase, reuse it. If you can’t remember the number, contact CDSC or your broker.
Your KRA PIN certificate (a copy).
Your national ID (front and back) or passport. Companies need a certificate of incorporation or similar document.
Bank details, if you want refunds and dividends paid to a bank account. The company asks for a certified copy of your ATM card or a redacted bank statement dated within the last three months. If you choose M-Pesa for refunds and dividends, you can skip this, though payments above Ksh 250,000 can only go to a bank account.
Your money, ready to pay before the 5:00 p.m. deadline on October 30. A late payment means an incomplete application.

Three Ways to Apply

The company lists three official channels. Pick one.

Option 1: The Online Portal

The official portal is quickmartipo.e-offer.app. As the company describes it:

Click “Apply Now” and accept the terms.
Select “New Application” and enter your CDS number, mobile number, and email.
Your details are checked against the CDS database and pre-filled. Confirm them.
Enter the amount you want to invest and add your bank details for refunds and dividends.
Choose how to pay. You can make multiple payments to reach your target amount.
Submit, finish the payment (upload proof of payment if you paid by bank transfer), and wait for a confirmation email.

Option 2: USSD (Good for Amounts Up to Ksh 250,000)

Dial 483803#. As published by the company, the steps are:

Accept the terms and conditions.
Choose “Apply for Shares”.
Enter the first three letters of your broker’s name to select them.
Enter your CDS number without leading zeros.
Pick your category (local individual, local company, foreign individual, or foreign company).
Enter your ID number.
Enter how many shares you want (minimum 500, then multiples of 100).
Confirm you want refunds and dividends sent to M-Pesa.
Confirm the details, then pay now with your M-Pesa PIN, or choose “Pay Later” to get an SMS with payment details.
Wait for the confirmation text saying your application was received and processed.

The most you can pay through USSD in one go is Ksh 250,000, but you can make multiple payments. Menu prompts can change, so follow what appears on your screen.

Option 3: Safaricom Ziidi Trader or a Placing Agent

The company’s website lists Safaricom’s Ziidi Trader (inside the M-Pesa app) as an application channel.

You can also submit a physical form to a placing agent, or apply at any Stanbic Bank Kenya branch or other placing agent listed in the Information Memorandum.

Physical forms can be downloaded from the portal and must reach the agent by 5:00 p.m. on October 30.

How Much Should You Apply For?

The numbers are simple at Sh7.50 a share:

500 shares: Sh3,750
1,000 shares: Sh7,500
5,000 shares: Sh37,500
10,000 shares: Sh75,000

Two rules matter when you choose an amount:

Applications are irrevocable. You cannot change or withdraw one without the company’s written consent, so decide before you submit.
You might get fewer shares than you ask for. If a category is oversubscribed, applications are scaled back pro rata, and unused money is refunded. Reports on a supplementary Information Memorandum say the retail slice was cut to 12% of the offer after new institutional investors joined, so a scale-back is possible if retail demand is strong. Apply for an amount you are comfortable holding.

If you submit several applications, all applications under the same CDS account, and all CDS accounts in the same name, are combined and treated as one for allocation.

How to Pay

You can pay by M-Pesa (through USSD or the portal, which sends a prompt to your phone) or by bank transfer or cash deposit. If you pay by bank transfer, put your application serial number in the narration and upload proof of payment on the portal.

A safety tip: copy payment details only from the official portal or your application form, not from a blog, a WhatsApp message, or a social media post, including this one. Scammers like IPOs. The official website is ipo.quickmart.co.ke.

What Happens After You Apply

You should get a confirmation by text or email. If you don’t, contact the registrar, Image Registrars. Keep your confirmation, serial number, and proof of payment.
Results and allocations are due November 6.
Shares are credited to your CDS account from November 11, and any refund starts the same day. Refunds go to the account you gave when applying.
Trading is due to begin November 12.

The offer is not underwritten. It needs valid applications for at least 75% of the shares (1.5 billion) and an allotment to at least 250 investors. If those conditions aren’t met, the offer lapses and all application money is refunded in full, within 14 business days of the announcement.

What If You Are Abroad?

Kenyan citizens qualify as Kenyan retail investors wherever they live, but you are responsible for making sure taking part is lawful where you are.

The offer is not made to the public outside Kenya, and restrictions apply in several jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Economic Area, South Africa, Canada, Australia, and Japan.

Investors from other East African Community countries can also apply. Foreign investors can apply subject to the selling restrictions in the Information Memorandum, and you may only apply in one investor category.

If You Miss the IPO: Buying After Listing

If you read this after October 30, you can still buy Quickmart shares once they start trading on the NSE, expected November 12. The steps are the same as for any NSE stock:

Get a CDS account through a licensed stockbroker.
Choose a broker. Any NSE licensed broker works, including SBG Securities and Dyer & Blair, which are placing agents for this IPO. Most have mobile or online platforms.
Fund your trading account by bank transfer or mobile money.
Place your order. Give the ticker (the NSE announces it at listing), the number of shares, and either a market order at the going price or a limit order at a price you set. After listing, the price is set by the market, not fixed at Sh7.50, so it may be higher or lower.
Diaspora options. Many brokers open accounts remotely with certified ID, and some support USD settlement.
Track your holding. Shares settle into your CDS account within a few business days. Follow the price, dividend announcements, and results through your broker or the NSE website.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Applying without a valid CDS account, or typing the wrong CDS number.
Missing the 5:00 p.m. payment deadline on October 30.
Forgetting to put the serial number in the narration on a bank transfer.
Applying under the wrong investor category.
Assuming you’ll get everything you applied for.
Paying to a number or account you found anywhere other than the official portal or form.

Taxes

As stated in the company’s FAQ at the time of writing, and subject to change: dividends carry a final withholding tax of 5% for Kenyan residents and East African citizens, and 15% for non-residents (or a lower treaty rate).

Gains on sales of NSE-listed shares are currently exempt from capital gains tax, and no stamp duty applies to transfers. Confirm with a tax adviser.

This guide is not investment, legal, or tax advice.