Nairobi — Plans for the privatization of the Nairobi Stock Exchange (NSE) are in top gear in a move expected to raise the dwindling investor confidence and improve performance to world class standards.

Kenya's Finance Permanent Secretary Joseph Kinyua said the privatization exercise could come earlier than expected as the government moves to improve the country's capital markets.

NSE is considered the beigest stock exchange in Eastern Africa with most of its operations currently being automated to improve efficiency.

The privatization will come after a demutualization process that aims to separate the ownership of the national bourse from management to foster transparency and redeem investor confidence that have been waning with the collapse of a number of stock brokerage firms.