Safaricom and iXAfrica Set a New Standard for AI in East Africa
On May 15, 2025, Safaricom and iXAfrica made headlines by announcing a groundbreaking partnership to build the first AI-ready data centre in East Africa. This move isn’t just about bigger servers and faster internet—it’s about completely changing how businesses and government agencies in the region handle artificial intelligence right here at home instead of shipping data overseas.
The new data centre marks a turning point for Kenya’s tech industry. Picture this: racks that can handle jaw-dropping workloads—up to 50 kilowatts per rack—which is enough power to run the most advanced NVIDIA GPU setups. This kind of capability means local companies can process massive amounts of data for AI, cloud computing, and edge devices without ever leaving the country’s borders.
Safaricom’s CEO, Dr. Peter Ndegwa, didn’t mince words about their ambition. He made it clear that this isn’t just infrastructure; it’s the foundation for East Africa’s digital economy to flourish. ‘We’re adding world-class data centre services to our suite, and it’s going to push Kenya towards sustainable digital growth,’ he said. Safaricom brings their unrivaled connectivity and market expertise, while iXAfrica delivers the huge, high-density facility to power demanding AI tasks. This sort of pairing means local startups, banks, hospitals, and even schools will get to use top-tier tech that was out of reach just a few years ago.
Planning for the Next Wave of AI and Cloud Services
So what exactly does ‘AI-ready’ mean here? For starters, the data centre’s enterprise and cloud suites start at 350 kilowatts and can scale up to more than 1 megawatt. That spells big news for local AI developers and tech teams who have been constrained by outdated or overseas hosting. Now, they’ll get access to secure, fast, and compliant infrastructure that’s built to handle sophisticated workloads—everything from predictive healthcare analytics to real-time financial modelling.
Just as important, this facility will help companies keep their data on Kenyan soil, ticking all the right boxes for data sovereignty and regulatory compliance. That’s become a big deal, especially as data privacy and protection rules tighten globally.
- Dedicated AI and cloud processing infrastructure
- Support for high-power GPUs and edge devices
- Integrated connectivity for fast, secure enterprise access
- Flexible packages for government, businesses, and tech innovators
The ripple effects stretch far beyond Kenya’s borders. With global hyperscalers like Microsoft and Oracle circling East Africa for new regional deployments, the timing couldn’t be better. This initiative positions Kenya as a regional tech magnet, ready to attract fresh investments and spark the next generation of digital innovation across Africa. Safaricom’s 2030 roadmap to become the continent’s tech leader is clearly picking up speed, and with this data centre, the country is already rewriting what’s possible for AI in Africa.
