American technology giant Oracle Corporation is establishing a public cloud region in Nairobi, Kenya, underscoring the East African country’s reputation as a foremost investment destination for global tech firms in Africa.
The plans to set up the cloud data center come after a meeting between the Kenyan government, led by President William Ruto, and a delegation from Oracle, headed by Senior Vice President Scott Twaddle.
President Ruto affirmed Kenya’s commitment to facilitate technology companies seeking to establish operations across Africa. He stated, “In line with the government’s strategy to lay 100,000km of fibre optic, provide digital jobs and digitise government services, Kenya continues to be a prime destination for international IT companies.”
Oracle’s Planned Data Center is Significant for Kenya’s Digital Growth
Oracle’s decision to build a cloud region in Nairobi signals the multinational’s confidence in Kenya’s economic prospects, infrastructure, and skilled talent pool. The data center will enable improved performance and reduced latency for local businesses using Oracle’s cloud-based services.
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The move also marks a major milestone for the continued development of Silicon Savannah as a globally recognized African tech hub.
“Oracle Corporation is set to establish its Cloud Data Centre in Nairobi, reinforcing Kenya as a top investment destination in Africa. This move enhances connectivity infrastructure, creates jobs, and marks a crucial milestone for Silicon Savannah’s progress. The Data Centre is vital for digital infrastructure, fueling government’s digital transformation and enabling digital job opportunities” John Kipchumba Principal Secretary, State Department of ICT and Digital Economy stated in a separate announcement.
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David Bunei, Oracle’s Managing Director in Kenya, said the Nairobi cloud region underscores Oracle’s commitment to powering Africa’s digital transformation.
The data center aims to assist Kenyan enterprises, government agencies, startups, universities, and investors in unlocking innovation.
Strategic Investment Leverages Kenya’s Connectivity, Renewable Energy
Oracle intends to capitalize on Kenya’s extensive connectivity infrastructure, including abundant submarine and national fiber links. The country’s renewable energy capabilities will further support the cloud region by sustainably powering operations.
The Nairobi facility will be Oracle’s second cloud region investment in Africa after Johannesburg, South Africa. The company looks to continue broadening its cloud footprint across the continent to equip African organizations with next-generation digital capabilities.
