Microsoft and G42, an Abu Dhabi-based artificial intelligence company, have committed to investing $1 billion in Kenya to support the country's digital economy, building a geothermal-powered data center in the process.
The funding package is being made in collaboration with Kenya's Ministry of Information, Communications and Digital Economy and marks the largest digital investment in the country's history, representing a major turning point for its citizens and economy.
Key to the mammoth investment will be a state-of-the-art green data center in Olkaria, a small region north of Nairobi in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, known for its geothermal activity.
Microsoft to build new geothermal data center near Nairobi, Kenya
The data center built by G42 will serve as a hub for Microsoft Azure in a new East African cloud region, which will go live within two years.
In addition to the new cloud infrastructure, Microsoft has also committed to developing AI models and research in the local Swahili/English language, establishing an innovation lab in East Africa and training in AI digital skills, improving local connectivity and internationally and collaborate with the Kenyan government to secure cloud services in the region.
Of key importance to Kenyan citizens is Microsoft's promise to provide last-mile wireless Internet access to 20 million people in Kenya (about 37% of the country's population), and 50 million people across East Africa , by the end of next year.
Commenting on the announcement, the President of Kenya, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, said: “In the spirit of mutual growth and shared prosperity, this [letter of intent] “It is a step forward towards a brighter, more connected and digitally empowered future for the US, Kenya and the UAE.”
Microsoft vice president and president Brad Smith highlighted the importance of the investment: “This partnership between two companies and three countries highlights a real opportunity to bring digital technology to the Global South in a safe way.”
