Nxtra by Airtel Builds 44MW Data Centre in Kenya
Nxtra by Airtel has commenced construction of a 44MW sustainable data centre at Tatu City Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Kenya.
The facility, designed to position Tatu City as East Africa’s leading hub for digital infrastructure, will operate on 95% renewable energy. By combining scale, sustainability and advanced technology, the project strengthens Kenya’s credentials as a regional leader in the data centre market.
Built in phases, the Nxtra facility will deliver 44MW of IT power capacity. It will support next-generation servers, high-density GPU-ready racks and advanced operational features, including 99.999% uptime, redundant fibre pathways and multi-layered security systems.
“Kenya’s digital future is bright and today we took a bold step forward,” commented H.E. Hon. William Kabogo Gitau, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy. “Once completed in the first quarter of 2027, this facility will be the largest in East Africa, with a capacity of 40MW, strategically positioning Kenya as a continental technology hub.
"Beyond strengthening business continuity and data security, the Data Centre will unlock innovation in AI, High-Performance Computing, fintech, healthcare, education, agriculture and public services.
"It is a major enabler of the Government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) by driving digital inclusion, supporting enterprises and boosting Kenya’s competitiveness in the global digital economy. Kenya is ready for the digital demands of tomorrow.”
A hub built for growth
Tatu City has spent over a decade investing in large-scale infrastructure tailored for hyperscale data centres.
Its backbone includes a 135MVA power substation and distribution network with 99.7% uptime, a reliable 24/7 industrial water supply, international-standard stormwater systems, more than 70km of modern roads and over 120km of secure underground fibre.
“For more than a decade, we have invested in world-class infrastructure and sustainable energy at Tatu City to make it the natural home for data centres in East Africa,” said Stephen Jennings, Founder and CEO of Rendeavour, the owner and developer of Tatu City.
“Airtel’s decision to locate Nxtra here is a powerful endorsement of this vision. As Nxtra joins over 100 global and local companies already thriving at Tatu City, we are confident that many more data centres will follow.
"Together, we are building the secure, scalable and sustainable digital backbone that Africa needs for its economic transformation.”
Airtel’s regional ambition
Nxtra by Airtel represents the most significant single data centre development in East Africa to date.
“By building the largest data centre in East Africa, we are laying the groundwork for a thriving digital ecosystem that empowers businesses, supports governments and unlocks new opportunities for communities across the region,” explained Yashnath Issur, CEO, Data Centre at Airtel Africa.
“Nxtra by Airtel will be built to the highest global standards, ensuring reliability, scalability and energy efficiency.
"Beyond capacity, our focus is on sustainability and resilience, enabling customers to leverage next-generation technologies in a secure environment fully.”
The project aligns with Tatu City’s renewable energy ecosystem, which sources more than 95% of its power from clean energy, one-third of which is generated directly from solar.
Combined with Kenya’s predominantly renewable national grid, the site offers one of the cleanest and most reliable energy mixes available to data centre operators in the region.
A location designed for enterprise
Tatu City is already home to a thriving business and residential community, with more than 25,000 people living, working and studying within the development.
It features 4,500 completed homes, schools educating 6,000 students and a business ecosystem representing more than KES 400bn (US$3.1bn) in investment.
Enterprises operating in the SEZ include multinational and regional leaders such as Emirates Logistics, Heineken, Cold Solutions, FullCare Medical, CCI Global, Dormans, Kärcher, Naivas, NCBA, Davis & Shirtliff and Grit Real Estate Income Group.
The SEZ framework offers a compelling incentive package, including a reduced corporate tax rate of 10% for the first 10 years and 15% for the subsequent 10 years, compared with Kenya’s standard 30% rate.
Businesses will further benefit from VAT zero-rating, plus exemptions on import duty and stamp duty.
With the combination of sustainable infrastructure, regulatory incentives and international connectivity, Tatu City is positioned as a magnet for hyperscale providers, cloud operators and enterprise customers.
Airtel’s Nxtra facility becomes the anchor project of the strategy, confirming Tatu City’s role as the central hub for East Africa’s expanding data centre market.
