Employees at Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Nairobi were reportedly told on October 12, 2026, that the engineering hub would close. Business Insider Africa reported the employee accounts, relayed by CIO Africa and tech-ish, and said Microsoft acknowledged proposed changes to its engineering operations in Kenya. The company also said it would continue operating in Kenya and supporting customers. Business Insider Africa’s report described the proposed changes without specifying a final closure decision.
Kenya’s government raises jobs and talent
On October 12, Kenya’s technology minister William Kabogo met a Microsoft delegation and urged the company to retain local talent, protect jobs at the Nairobi engineering centre and sustain investor confidence. Business Insider Africa identified Jeff Bullwinkel, Microsoft’s Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Corporate, as the delegation’s leader.
In its October 13 report, Business Insider Africa said Microsoft had not publicly specified how many employees could be affected or when the proposed changes would take effect.
The Nairobi centre’s engineering work
The report described ADC engineers as contributing to international Microsoft products, with work spanning digital identity, Microsoft 365, Windows, security and developer tools. Microsoft’s stated plan to continue operating in Kenya concerns its broader presence in the country; it does not specify the future of the Nairobi engineering centre.
The centre’s original purpose
The original Africa Development Centre initiative began with locations in Nairobi and Lagos. Its combined plan set targets of US$100 million in investment over five years and 500 engineers recruited across both cities by 2023. These were goals for the initiative, not current spending or a count of jobs at risk.
The Star Kenya’s launch coverage presented the centre as a platform for African talent to develop technology with local and global impact.
