Safaricom & iXAfrica partner to bring East Africa its first AI-ready data centre
Both companies hope the data center will accelerate innovation and digital transformation for businesses across the region.
While much of the continent is still debating the risks and rewards of AI, Kenya is laying down the infrastructure to power it. In a bold move that signals East Africa’s ambitions in the global tech arena, Safaricom, Kenya’s leading telco, has teamed up with iXAfrica to launch the region’s first AI-ready data centre.
Announced this week, the partnership will offer scalable, enterprise-grade infrastructure for everything from basic cloud storage to full-blown AI model training. At the heart of this setup is iXAfrica’s massive NBO1 campus in Nairobi, a 22.5MW facility designed to handle the heat of AI workloads. Think advanced cooling, robust power systems, and prime placement along key fibre routes. It’s also powered by low-carbon energy, making it a sustainability win too.
But beyond the specs, the real question is how much this will shift the playing field. For years, African startups and enterprises relying on AI had to lean on overseas infrastructure, a setup that often meant higher costs, latency issues, and compliance headaches. This data centre aims to change that by keeping AI workloads closer to home. In theory, it could speed up development cycles, lower barriers for local innovators, and improve data sovereignty.
That said, it’s not a silver bullet. Access, affordability, and AI literacy still pose significant hurdles for smaller companies, and it remains to be seen how inclusive the rollout will be. Will this be a platform for grassroots innovation, or mainly serve large enterprise clients?
Zooming out, this move also comes at a time when regional competition is picking up. Cassava Technologies, for instance, is already building an “AI factory” in South Africa with NVIDIA, with plans to expand into Kenya. In that context, Safaricom and iXAfrica’s deal feels as much like a defensive play as it is a vision for the future.
For Safaricom, this also feeds into a broader push to reposition itself from a telco to a tech player by 2030. And for Kenya, it’s a shot at taking a bigger role in the continent’s digital economy, though how much impact it has will depend on adoption, execution, and who gets to plug into this new infrastructure.
Acquah Nana Yeboah
