Airtel Africa has broken ground for the construction of arguably East Africa’s largest data centre at Tatu City, a hub that is designed to meet the latest infrastructure requirement for cloud and AI services.

Through the telco's data centre arm Nxtra by Airtel Africa, the investment is structured to have a power capacity of 44 megawatts (MW), housing new generation of servers as well as high-density GPU-ready racks.

It is also designed to feature multiple redundant fiber paths while incorporating advanced security systems targeting to offer reliable data services to hyperscalers, enterprises, and governments.

ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has lauded the launch of the Data Centre, noting that the facility aligns with the government’s digital agenda, which seeks to expand broadband connectivity, spur innovation, and drive digital economy.

“The scale and quality of this facility will firmly place Kenya on the map as a trusted host for global and regional digital infrastructure. Above all it is a reflection of the confidence in Kenya’s economy, policies and our vision for a digitally enabled society,” said Kabogo.

Africa's digital backbone

The investment is part of a broad plan by Airtel Africa to strengthen the continent’s digital backbone, democratize cloud services and support the exponential growth of data services in the region.

Nxtra Africa CEO, Yashnath Issur has termed this investment part of airtel group long-term commitment to Africa’s digital future, stating: “We are positioning Nxtra Africa as the Go-To partner for cloud and AI workload hosting with a view to power businesses, supports governments, and unlocks new opportunities for communities across the region. 

"Nxtra by Airtel is being built to the highest global standards, ensuring reliability, scalability, and energy efficiency. Beyond capacity, our focus is on sustainability and resilience, enabling customers to fully leverage next-generation technologies in a secure environment,” added Yashnath Issur.

The data centre will be developed in two phases of 22MW each, reaching a total site capacity of 44MW upon completion and is expected to be ready for service in the first quarter of 2027. 

Construction is set to create jobs, with additional permanent technical and operational roles once the facility becomes operational. 

In addition, Nxtra will work with local suppliers and contractors, injecting millions into the Kenyan economy, supporting the growth of the country’s technology ecosystem and enabling Kenyan businesses to compete on a global scale.

“This facility goes beyond infrastructure. It reinforces Kenya’s continuing leadership in Africa’s digital revolution by improving data sovereignty, security, and efficiency. Once operational, it will attract global tech players, create jobs, lower the cost of digital services, and make it easier for Kenyan companies to grow," said Airtel Kenya Managing Director, Ashish Malhotra. 

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