Data centres in Kenya: 4 top operators, 90MW+ compared

Updated 10 November 2026

Looking for data centres in Kenya to host servers, back up data or connect to the cloud? Four operators publish clear capacity figures: iXAfrica on Mombasa Road, Digital Realty (formerly iColo) in Nairobi and Mombasa, Africa Data Centres at Sameer Industrial Park, and the government’s Konza National Data Centre. Together, the built and planned sites listed by the private operators add up to more than 90 MW of IT capacity. This guide compares what each one says it offers, where it is, and how to choose.

Updated November 2026. Figures come from each operator’s own website, checked on 10 November 2026: iXAfrica, iColo, now Digital Realty, Africa Data Centres Nairobi and Konza Cloud. Planned capacity is what the operators publish, not what is built today.

Data centres in Kenya: quick comparison

Across the main data centres in Kenya, adding iXAfrica’s three published phases (75.5 MW), Digital Realty’s Mombasa sites and NBO2 (9.05 MW) and Africa Data Centres’ 7.5 MW gives about 92 MW. Most of that is iXAfrica’s planned NBOX2, so treat it as a pipeline figure, not live capacity.

iXAfrica: the largest of the data centres in Kenya

iXAfrica describes NBOX1 on Mombasa Road as a hyperscale, carrier-neutral and AI-ready data centre. Its site lists:

• NBOX1.1: 4.5 MW of IT load and 780 racks, with 2.25 MW ready and up to 40 kW available per rack for high-density computing.
• NBOX1.2: 18 MW of IT load and 3,744 racks.
• NBOX2: a planned 53 MW+ site on 11 acres at Tilisi, about 40 km from NBOX1.1.
• NBOX3: a further planned site south-east of NBOX1.1.

The company states a power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.25 across the campus and says it draws on Kenya’s mostly renewable grid. Services listed include colocation, hot desks, migration, connectivity options, remote hands and bespoke data halls.

Digital Realty, formerly iColo: Nairobi and Mombasa data centres in Kenya

iColo now trades as Digital Realty in Kenya and Mozambique. Its locations page lists four campuses in three cities, three of them in Kenya:

• Mombasa One (MBA1), Miritini: 0.9 MW of IT power and 4,000 m².
• Mombasa Two (MBA2), Nyali: 1.75 MW of IT load and 4,000 m².
• Nairobi One (NBO1): data centre and teleport.

On 7 September 2026, Digital Realty announced NBO2, which it says adds 6.4 MW of capacity to its Nairobi campus. The Mombasa sites sit close to the undersea cable landing stations, which matters for firms that need low-latency links to Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The operator also lists colocation and teleport services, where broadcasters and satellite users relay signals through the facility.

Africa Data Centres, Nairobi

Africa Data Centres’ NBO1 is at Sameer Industrial Park, Nairobi. The company says the site has 7.5 MW of available capacity and 2,000 m² of secure server space over four floors. It was, according to the operator, the first data centre in East Africa to hold Uptime Institute Tier III certification and the first in the region to be PCI DSS certified, a payments-security standard that banks and card processors look for.

The operator lists four certified data halls, hot and cold aisle containment, a 24/7 security operations centre, gas fire suppression, and fibre routes to Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia and Somalia, plus diverse routes to the Mombasa cable landing stations. Colocation options include private cages, secured racks, cross-connects and metered power.

Konza National Data Centre: the government option

The Konza Technopolis Development Authority runs the National Data Centre through Konza Cloud. Its published services are cloud virtual machines, colocation, web hosting, backup as a service, software as a service, virtual desktops and video conferencing. The authority lists multiple diverse fibre links, 2N power redundancy, 24/7 operations support and a data centre infrastructure management system. Among data centres in Kenya it is the natural option for government agencies, and private firms can also enquire. Our news report on Konza’s data centre nearing capacity covers the Treasury’s plan to bring in a private partner.

How to choose between data centres in Kenya

1. Location and latency. Nairobi sites suit most local businesses. Mombasa sites suit content and network firms that want to be near the cable landings.
2. Certification. Ask for current Uptime Institute tier certificates, ISO 27001 and PCI DSS reports if you handle card or payment data.
3. Power density. AI and GPU workloads need high-density racks. iXAfrica publishes up to 40 kW per rack; ask other operators for their figures.
4. Carrier neutrality. A carrier-neutral site lets you choose between internet providers and avoid lock-in. Pair it with a strong office line; see our business fibre internet guide.
5. Data protection rules. Personal data processed in Kenya falls under the Data Protection Act, 2019. Ask each operator how it supports your obligations as a data controller.
6. Room to grow. Check whether the operator has spare capacity or a confirmed next phase.

Costs and contracts

None of the data centres in Kenya covered here publishes colocation prices online. Prices depend on rack count, power draw in kW, cross-connects and contract length, so request written quotes from at least two operators for the same specification. Small businesses that only need hosting or backup may find cloud servers or web hosting cheaper than renting rack space. For wider tech and startup coverage, see our Kenya tech hub, and for Konza’s industrial plans read Konza’s factory jobs target.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the biggest data centre in Kenya?

By published capacity, iXAfrica’s Nairobi campus is the largest, with 4.5 MW at NBOX1.1, 18 MW at NBOX1.2 and a planned 53 MW+ NBOX2. Check which phases are live before you sign.

How many data centres in Kenya take outside customers?

There are more than the four covered here, because banks, telecoms firms and government agencies run their own facilities. These four are the main operators that publish capacity or services for outside customers.

Is iColo the same as Digital Realty?

Yes. iColo was part of Digital Realty and now uses the Digital Realty brand in Kenya and Mozambique, as announced alongside NBO2 in September 2026.

Where is the Konza National Data Centre?

At Konza Technopolis, about 65 km south-east of Nairobi along the Mombasa highway. It is run by the Konza Technopolis Development Authority through Konza Cloud.

How much does it cost to rent a rack in a Kenyan data centre?

Operators do not publish rack prices. Ask for quotes based on the number of racks, the power you need in kW, cross-connects and contract length.