Microsoft Closes Nairobi Engineering Hub Affecting 500 Staff

Microsoft is closing the engineering department of its Africa Development Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, a move that may affect between 400 and 500 employees. Staff received notification of the restructuring on October 12, 2026.

Microsoft intends to retain other Kenyan employees to support regional customers and digital transformation initiatives despite the engineering unit's closure. This decision follows a pattern of regional exits, including the 2024 closure of the company's Africa Development Centre in Lagos and the cessation of direct operations in Pakistan in 2025.

The announcement took place during a meeting between a Microsoft delegation and Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for ICT, William Kabogo. Kabogo emphasized the government's objective to protect local jobs and maintain investor confidence. The restructuring occurs alongside delays to a Ksh129 billion data centre project in Kenya, which has been stalled by disputes over power supply and financing.