Airtel Kenya Breaks Ground on East Africa’s Largest Data Centre
Airtel Kenya Breaks Ground on East Africa’s Largest Data Centre
A Landmark Investment in Kenya’s Digital Future
Airtel Africa, through its data centre arm Nxtra by Airtel Africa, has begun building East Africa’s largest data centre at Tatu City. The facility will meet the latest infrastructure needs for cloud and AI services.
The Nxtra Data Centre will have a power capacity of 44 megawatts (MW). It will feature GPU-ready racks, multiple redundant fiber paths, and advanced security systems. With 99.999% uptime, it will deliver unmatched reliability and scalability for hyperscalers, enterprises, and governments.
Hon. William Kabogo, Cabinet Secretary for ICT, praised the project during the groundbreaking ceremony. He said the facility aligns with the government’s digital agenda to expand broadband, spur innovation, and grow the digital economy. “This scale of investment places Kenya firmly on the global map as a trusted host for digital infrastructure,” he added.
The groundbreaking represents a major step in Airtel Africa’s plan to strengthen Africa’s digital backbone, democratize cloud services, and meet the continent’s surging demand for data.
Airtel Kenya Breaks Ground on East Africa’s Largest Data Centre
Scaling Capacity, Creating Jobs, and Driving Growth
Nxtra Africa CEO Yashnath Issur described the project as part of Airtel’s long-term commitment to Africa’s digital future. “By building specialized data centre capacity, we are positioning Nxtra as the go-to partner for cloud and AI hosting. Our focus is on reliability, scalability, and sustainability,” he said.
The data centre will be developed in two phases of 22MW each, reaching 44MW in total. It is expected to go live in the first quarter of 2027. Construction will create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, with permanent technical and operational roles once completed.
In addition, Nxtra will work with local suppliers and contractors. This will inject millions into Kenya’s economy, strengthen the technology ecosystem, and help local businesses compete globally.
Airtel Kenya Managing Director, Ashish Malhotra, said the facility will reinforce Kenya’s leadership in Africa’s digital revolution. “It will attract global tech players, improve data sovereignty, and lower the cost of digital services. More importantly, it will create jobs and give Kenyan businesses the tools to grow,” he noted.
With this groundbreaking, Airtel Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to investing in the region. The company aims to serve customers better while driving innovation, growth, and Kenya’s role as a regional technology hub.
