A major step forward for digital transformation in Kenya was announced today with the selection of iXAfrica Data Centre Limited as the official colocation partner for the forthcoming Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) region in Nairobi. The collaboration is poised to transform the country’s cloud landscape and accelerate growth in digital services, artificial intelligence, and enterprise innovation across East Africa.
In a move that underlines Kenya’s rising prominence as a technology hub, Oracle’s choice of iXAfrica reinforces confidence in the local ecosystem’s ability to support large-scale cloud operations. With the partnership in full execution mode, Kenya is preparing to host cutting-edge cloud infrastructure that will bring services closer to businesses and organisations operating in the region.
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Local Hosting to Power Faster, Smarter Digital Services
The core of this development is the decision by Oracle, the global enterprise technology leader, to situate its OCI public cloud region within iXAfrica’s state-of-the-art data centre in Nairobi. iXAfrica is recognised as East and Central Africa’s largest hyperscale, carrier-neutral, and AI-ready facility, designed to meet the needs of modern cloud providers and large enterprises.
By hosting OCI locally, organisations based in Kenya and neighbouring countries will be able to deploy latency-sensitive applications, nurture AI-powered services, and scale digital workloads with significant improvements in performance and security compared with relying on foreign data centres. The presence of a regional cloud infrastructure means that businesses can keep their data closer to home and avoid delays that come with remote hosting.
From financial services to healthcare, government agencies to startup ecosystems, the expanded cloud capacity enables faster innovation while ensuring compliance with data residency requirements. With more cloud resources on the ground, Kenya’s digital economy is positioned to compete on a global scale with reliable, fast and secure cloud infrastructure.
A Global Cloud Player Partners with Kenyan Infrastructure
Oracle’s confidence in iXAfrica’s facility is underpinned by the latter’s adherence to global data centre standards. The Nairobi site is built with carrier neutrality, high-density computing support, and resilient power architecture that aligns with international cloud deployment requirements. These features make iXAfrica uniquely ready to serve as a host for OCI and meet the urgent demand from enterprise clients.
Senior leaders from both sides have expressed their optimism about the impact of this partnership. iXAfrica’s chief executive pointed to Kenya’s strong connectivity and renewable energy assets as key advantages. From a global cloud provider’s perspective, local hosting will bolster Kenya’s digital competitiveness and support the country’s broader strategy for economic transformation through technology.
As the project moves forward, construction and infrastructure deployment are already at advanced stages. Power systems, networking, and other critical connectivity elements are being put in place to ensure that the facility meets the strict performance and uptime standards expected by global cloud customers.
Broader Context: Kenya’s Tech Ecosystem on the Rise
This announcement builds on several related developments that signal rapid growth in Kenya’s digital infrastructure. iXAfrica’s NBOX1 hyperscale data centre campus is part of a broader expansion effort that includes significant capacity for local cloud hosting and enterprise colocation services. In previous phases, the facility has drawn investment from major partners and has been championed as a cornerstone for regional digital transformation.
The strategic importance of such infrastructure was emphasised by government and business leaders during earlier stages of its development. They highlighted Kenya’s readiness to become a central technology gateway for the region, citing factors such as robust fibre connectivity, high mobile penetration, and an enabling investment climate.
Collaborations with other technology firms have also reinforced this role. Partnerships aimed at launching AI-ready services, edge computing platforms, and sovereign cloud solutions reflect a concerted effort to ensure that Kenya’s digital backbone supports a wide range of enterprise and public sector needs. These efforts converge with global cloud hosting initiatives like the OCI deployment.
Why This Matters for Kenya and the Region
The local hosting of a major public cloud region brings both immediate and long-term benefits. Organisations will experience reduced latency for critical operations, which is particularly important for real-time applications such as online services, remote work platforms, and interactive customer experiences.
In addition, keeping data within national borders helps organisations comply with local regulatory frameworks and data protection standards. This is a growing priority across African markets as governments and regulators focus on data sovereignty, security, and digital governance.
The increased availability of cloud resources also has implications for local talent development. With major cloud infrastructure based in Nairobi, there will be greater opportunities for professionals in cloud engineering, data management, cybersecurity, and related fields to build their expertise within the region rather than relocating overseas.
For small and medium-sized enterprises, access to modern cloud services closer to home reduces barriers to entry for digital tools and innovations. It encourages more startups and local technology ventures to build and scale their offerings using reliable infrastructure.
As Kenya cements its position as a hub for digital innovation in Africa, partnerships with world leaders in cloud technology amplify the country’s reach and influence. They create a foundation on which future digital services, AI solutions, and smart infrastructure can flourish.
A Turning Point for Cloud Adoption in Africa
The partnership between Oracle Cloud Infrastructure and iXAfrica is more than a commercial agreement. It marks a turning point in how cloud technologies are deployed in Africa, bridging local demand with global cloud expertise and infrastructure readiness.
By hosting OCI locally, Kenya not only improves the performance and accessibility of digital services for its own citizens and businesses but also becomes a more attractive destination for international investment in cloud-native industries. The knock-on effects include accelerated innovation, more robust digital ecosystems, and a stronger global presence for technology efforts rooted in East Africa.
The partnership stands as a milestone in Kenya’s digital transformation journey, showcasing how strategic infrastructure development can drive economic growth, empower local talent, and position the country as a leader in cloud adoption and digital innovation across Africa.
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