Data Centers in Kenya: Powering the Digital Revolution

Kenya has emerged as a key hub for data centers in East Africa, driven by its strategic location, growing digital economy, and increasing demand for cloud and colocation services. This comprehensive guide explores the current landscape of data centers in Kenya, their significance, key players, and future prospects, leveraging the latest available information as of August 15, 2025.

Why Data Centers in Kenya?

Kenya’s data center market is booming due to several factors:

• Strategic Location: Positioned in East Africa with access to undersea fiber-optic cables (e.g., EASSy, TEAMS, SEACOM), Kenya serves as a connectivity gateway to neighboring countries like Uganda, Tanzania, and Somalia.
• Digital Transformation: Rising internet penetration, a thriving tech ecosystem (often called the “Silicon Savannah”), and demand from SMEs, finance, telecom, and e-commerce sectors fuel data center growth.
• Investment Surge: The market was valued at USD 187 million in 2022 and is projected to reach USD 354 million by 2028, with a CAGR of 11.22%.
• Sustainability Focus: Many facilities adopt energy-efficient and renewable energy solutions, such as solar power and water-free cooling.

Overview of Data Centers in Kenya

Kenya hosts 19 data centers across two main markets: Nairobi (15 facilities) and Mombasa (4 facilities), with additional expansion in Kisumu. The existing capacity is approximately 20 MW, with plans to add 25 MW by 2025 and reach 150 MW by 2028, primarily driven by Nairobi, which accounts for over 90% of new capacity.

Key Players and Facilities

Several operators dominate Kenya’s data center landscape, offering colocation, cloud, and connectivity services. Below are some prominent players and their facilities:

1. Africa Data Centres (ADC):

• NBO1 Nairobi Data Centre (Sameer Industrial Park, Nairobi):
  • Features 2,000 square meters of secured space across four floors.
  • Uptime Institute Tier III certified, the first in East Africa.
  • Offers connectivity to carrier networks across Kenya and long-distance fiber routes to Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
  • Uses water-free cooling and solar power for sustainability.
• Services: Colocation (private cages, secured racks), cross-connects, power metering.

1. Digital Realty (icolo.io):

• Operates multiple facilities in Nairobi (e.g., NBO1, NBO2 at Langata S Rd & LRC Rd).
• Total colocation space: ~31,811 sq ft (NBO1: 20,000 sq ft, NBO2: 11,811 sq ft).
• Over 70 customers, including enterprise and financial services.
• 2N+2 cooling redundancy and access to diverse carriers.
• Mombasa facility (MBA2) hosts a Kenya Internet Exchange Point (KIXP) Point of Presence, enhancing local traffic and reducing latency.

1. IXAfrica:

• East Africa’s first hyperscale data center, located in Nairobi.
• Focuses on sustainable, reliable, and scalable solutions for regional demands.

1. PAIX:

• Operates the popular PAIX Nairobi-1 facility, a carrier-neutral data center.
• Significant presence in Nairobi’s colocation market.

1. Safaricom:

• Runs the Safaricom Thika Data Centre, among others.
• Provides colocation and cloud hosting services.

1. Liquid Telecom Kenya:

• State-of-the-art facility in Nairobi.
• Services include colocation, cloud hosting, and business continuity solutions with robust security measures.

1. Other Operators:

• Airtel Africa, Cloudoon, EcoCloud-G42, Internet Initiative Japan, MTN, and Telekom Kenya are also investing in Kenya’s data center infrastructure.
• Emerging facilities include a Microsoft and G42 partnership for a geothermal-powered data center campus in Olkaria, backed by a $1 billion investment.

Locations and Capacity

• Nairobi: Dominates with 15 facilities, ~90% of Kenya’s data center capacity. It’s the financial and industrial hub, hosting major operators like ADC, Digital Realty, and PAIX.
• Mombasa: Hosts 4 facilities, including icolo.io’s MBA1 and MBA2, leveraging its proximity to undersea cable landing stations.
• Kisumu: Emerging market with facilities like the Kisumu Data Centre, expanding regional coverage.

Total colocation space across Kenya’s data centers is approximately 49,811 sq ft, with an existing IT load capacity of 14–20 MW.

Services Offered

Kenya’s data centers provide a range of services:

• Colocation: Secure rack space, private cages, and cross-connects.
• Cloud Hosting: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), hybrid cloud solutions.
• Connectivity: Access to carrier networks, undersea cables, and KIXP for low-latency local traffic.
• Business Continuity: Disaster recovery and backup solutions.
• Sustainability: Energy-efficient designs, solar power, and water-free cooling.
• Security: PCI DSS compliance, 24/7 monitoring, and physical security measures.

Pricing varies by provider but includes retail colocation (quarter, half, or full racks) and wholesale colocation (per kW). For detailed pricing, providers like ADC or Digital Realty offer quote services.

Emerging Trends and Innovations

Kenya’s data center market is evolving rapidly:

• Edge Computing: Facilities are adopting edge computing to reduce latency by processing data closer to users.
• Sustainable Infrastructure: Use of renewable energy (e.g., geothermal in Olkaria, solar at ADC) and water-free cooling.
• Hybrid Cloud: Increasing demand for hybrid cloud solutions to support SMEs and digital transformation.
• Regional Hub: Kenya’s connectivity to undersea cables and neighboring countries positions it as a regional data hub.

Future Outlook

The Kenyan data center market is set for significant growth:

• Capacity Expansion: An additional 25 MW by 2025 and 150 MW by 2028, a tenfold increase from current capacity.
• Investment: Major investments include a $100 million commitment from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and IFC to ADC, and Microsoft/G42’s $1 billion geothermal-powered project.
• Regional Influence: Mombasa’s role as a connectivity hub is strengthened by KIXP’s new PoP at MBA2.
• Digital Economy: Rising demand from government, businesses, and consumers will drive further infrastructure development.

Challenges

• Power Reliability: Despite renewable energy adoption, grid dependency can be a challenge. Projects like KenGen’s Battery Energy Storage System aim to address this.
• Cost: High initial investment for sustainable infrastructure.
• Skilled Workforce: Demand for expertise in data center operations and management.

How to Choose a Data Center in Kenya

When selecting a data center, consider:

• Location: Proximity to your user base (Nairobi for central, Mombasa for coastal connectivity).
• Certifications: Look for Uptime Institute Tier III or PCI DSS compliance.
• Connectivity: Access to KIXP, undersea cables, or regional networks.
• Sustainability: Prioritize energy-efficient facilities for cost and environmental benefits.
• Scalability: Ensure the provider supports future growth (e.g., hyperscale options like IXAfrica).

For quotes or consultations, providers like ADC and Digital Realty offer free services to navigate the market.

Conclusion

Kenya’s data centers are at the heart of its digital revolution, supporting industries from mobile banking to e-commerce. With 19 facilities, a projected capacity of 150 MW by 2028, and major investments from global players, Kenya is solidifying its position as East Africa’s data hub. Whether you’re a business seeking colocation, cloud services, or connectivity, providers like Africa Data Centres, Digital Realty, IXAfrica, and others offer robust solutions tailored to the region’s needs.

For further details, explore provider websites (e.g., africadatacentres.com, digitalrealty.com) or request quotes through platforms like datacentermap.com. Stay tuned for updates as Kenya’s data center ecosystem continues to grow

Note: Information is based on sources available as of August 15, 2025. For the latest developments, check with providers or industry reports.