Business · Companies · 10 hrs ago
Microsoft’s Nairobi engineering centre faces closure, putting nearly 400 jobs at risk
Microsoft is winding down its Nairobi engineering centre, putting nearly 400 jobs at risk.
The Africa Development Centre opened in 2019 to let engineers in Kenya and Nigeria build technology for global markets.
Microsoft has told Kenyan employees to discuss proposed changes with their managers, including possible severance terms.
The company has not confirmed the centre will close or said how many employees will remain or when changes will take effect.
Microsoft previously shut its Lagos engineering centre in 2024, while saying then that the decision did not affect Kenya.
A major engineering hub could be lost, along with skilled jobs and a route for local developers to work on global products without leaving the continent.
Kenya’s ICT minister, William Kabogo, urged Microsoft to protect jobs after meeting company executives on October 12.
Both sides agreed to draft a joint action plan, while Microsoft said it remains committed to Kenya.
Microsoft is winding down or restructuring its Africa Development Centre in Nairobi, putting nearly 400 jobs at risk.
The company has not confirmed the centre’s closure, the number of affected employees or when changes will take effect.
Employees told TechCabal they were asked to meet managers by October 16 to discuss exit options, including severance.
Kenya’s ICT Minister William Kabogo said he urged Microsoft to protect jobs at the centre after meeting company executives on October 12.
Microsoft said it remains committed to Kenya and will continue to have employees in the country.
- Who
- Microsoft and employees at its Africa Development Centre in Nairobi.
- What
- Proposed changes to Microsoft’s Kenyan engineering operations have put nearly 400 jobs at risk. Employees told TechCabal they had been asked to discuss exit options.
- When
- The changes were discussed with employees on Monday, October 12, 2026. Employees were asked to meet managers by October 16.
- Where
- The Africa Development Centre in Dunhill Towers, in Nairobi’s Westlands district, Kenya.
- Why
- Microsoft said the changes are part of its global restructuring. It has not given a specific reason for the Nairobi changes.
Microsoft
Employees reporting a closure
Future of the centre
Microsoft
Microsoft said it was communicating with employees about proposed changes and reaffirmed its commitment to Kenya, but did not confirm a closure.
Employees reporting a closure
Employees told TechCabal they were asked to discuss exit options, and one person familiar with the matter expected fewer than 10 employees to remain.
Employment impact
Microsoft
Microsoft did not disclose how many employees were affected or how many would remain.
Employees reporting a closure
Employees said nearly 400 jobs were at risk and expected discussions to focus on severance terms.
Microsoft launched its Africa Development Centre in Nairobi and Lagos, with plans to hire 500 engineers across both sites by 2023.
Microsoft President Brad Smith said the Nairobi centre employed more than 450 engineers.
Microsoft confirmed the closure of its Lagos engineering centre and said the change would not affect its Kenyan centre.
Microsoft announced plans to eliminate around 4,800 roles globally and said engineering teams would evolve their structures and priorities.
Xbox announced 268 additional job cuts as part of its ongoing reset.
Kenya’s ICT Minister William Kabogo met Microsoft executives and said he pressed the company to protect jobs at the Nairobi centre.
- Jobs at risk
- Nearly 400
- Centre
- Africa Development Centre, Nairobi
- Location
- Dunhill Towers, Westlands
- Employee meeting deadline
- October 16, 2026
- Global restructuring cuts announced
- Around 4,800 roles
- Remaining staff estimate
- Fewer than 10 employees are expected to remain, according to a person familiar with the matter.
What people are saying
We are communicating directly with employees in Kenya about proposed changes to our engineering operations
We recognise the uncertainty this brings and are keeping those discussions private.
Our case is sealed; we just didn’t know when
protecting jobs at Microsoft’s Nairobi engineering centre
Posts on X
Today I met a Microsoft delegation led by Mr. Jeff Bullwinkel, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel for Corporate, External and Legal Affairs in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, together with the Microsoft East Africa team led by Ms. Angela Ng’ang’a. We discussed the
Sources
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