Nxtra Africa CEO, Yashnath Issur, Communications Authority Assistant Director Compliance Peter Ikumilu, ICT CS William Kabogo, and Airtel Kenya MD Ashish Malhotra during the groundbreaking of the Nxtra Data Centre, East Africa’s largest data centre with a planned power capacity of 44 megawatts (MW). Photo | courtesy.
Airtel has officially launched construction of East Africa’s largest data centre, a project aimed to redefine the region’s digital infrastructure.
Through its data centre subsidiary, Nxtra by Airtel Africa, the company broke ground at Tatu City, Nairobi, unveiling plans for a 44-megawatt (MW) facility purpose-built for cloud and AI services.
The Nxtra Data Centre is likely to feature cutting-edge infrastructure including high-density GPU-ready racks, multiple unnecessary fiber paths, and advanced security systems.
The design is guaranteeing a 99.999 percent uptime, with the facility aiming to serve hyperscalers, enterprises, and governments with unmatched reliability and capacity for expansion.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Cabinet Secretary for ICT William Kabogo hailed the project as a strategic win for Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.
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“The scale and quality of this facility will firmly place Kenya on the map as a trusted host for global and regional digital infrastructure,” he said, adding that it reflects confidence in Kenya’s economy, policies, and the vision for a digitally enabled society.
Nxtra Africa CEO Yashnath Issur emphasized that the long-term vision behind the investment positions Nxtra as the preferred partner for hosting cloud and AI workloads across Africa.
“We’re building to global standards with a focus on sustainability, resilience, and energy efficiency,” Issur noted, also emphasizing that business powering will support the government and unlock opportunities for communities.
According to the information released, the data centre is likely to be developed in two phases of 22MW each, with full capacity expected by Q1 2027. The project is projected to generate hundreds of jobs during construction and create permanent technical and operational roles once it becomes functional.
Nxtra also plans to collaborate with local suppliers and contractors, injecting millions into the Kenyan economy and bolstering the country’s tech ecosystem.
Airtel Kenya Managing Director Ashish Malhotra also described the initiative as a game-changer for Kenya’s digital economy. “This facility goes beyond infrastructure,” he said, also adding that it will attract global tech players and, with such, enhancing data sovereignty and hence lowering the cost of digital services.
