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Airtel Africa Breaks Ground on Nxtra Data Centre at Tatu City
Edwin Lubanga
September 10, 2025
Airtel Africa on Tuesday, 9th September 2025, broke ground for the construction of its Nxtra by Airtel Africa data centre in Tatu City, Kiambu County. The facility is set to become the largest in East Africa.
The groundbreaking ceremony featured remarks from Airtel Kenya Managing Director Ashish Malhotra and Rendeavour Founder and CEO Stephen Jennings, highlighting both Airtel’s vision for Kenya’s digital future and Tatu City’s readiness to host world-class infrastructure.
Airtel Kenya’s Commitment
Speaking during the groundbreaking, Ashish Malhotra said Airtel’s mission is “to connect people, enrich lives and drive progress.”
He emphasized the company’s investments in network expansion and digital services:
“As we lay the foundation of this facility today, we are continuously also expanding our footprint on our network with 4G and 5G technology to reach more Kenyans across both rural and urban markets. We are proud to continue empowering businesses and everyday Kenyans through our expanding Airtel Money network.”
Malhotra also pointed to Airtel’s role in capacity building and youth empowerment:
“We are investing in the right infrastructure and capacity building initiatives across the country to ensure that Kenya’s youth are just not consumers of digital services but also creators and innovators of Africa's digital future.”
He stressed the alignment of the project with government priorities:
“This project is fully aligned with the government's digital agenda of powering broadband, e-commerce, fintech, smart city solutions and digital trade.”
In closing, Malhotra urged that Kenya continue positioning itself globally:
“As we break ground today, my call is to ensure Kenya remains as a contender in the global technology race. We are a nation shaping the future of innovation, connectivity, inclusive growth. And let that not stop here. Kenya continues to be the Silicon Savannah leading in technology and innovation. Together, we are building more than a data centre. Today, we are elevating Kenya's position at the very forefront of Africa's digital… And we are proud as Airtel to be part of this journey and Kenya's history.”
Tatu City as a Digital Hub
Rendeavour Founder and CEO Stephen Jennings welcomed guests to Tatu City, calling the groundbreaking “an extremely important milestone for Airtel, Tatu City and Rendeavour.”
He said the project “demonstrates the scale of investment, ambition and commitment required to actually deliver on Africa's digital future.”
Jennings detailed Tatu City’s infrastructure, including:
The Tatu City substation with 135 MVA capacity from multiple feeder lines.
More than 120 kilometres of underground, open-access fibre with redundant routes.
Integration of clean energy, with solar capacity already at five megawatts and plans to service more than a third of the city’s power needs through solar by year-end.
“Coupled with Kenya's green network, Tatu City has delivered one of the most environmentally friendly locations for data centres anywhere in the world with about 95% renewable energy. Right here on this site, Airtel Nxtra will be able to draw on this renewable ecosystem perfectly aligning with Airtel's commitment to efficient and sustainable data infrastructure.”
He said Airtel’s investment strengthens Tatu City’s ecosystem, which already hosts more than 100 companies and supports over 25,000 workers, 6,000 students, and 4,500 homes.
Jennings added:
“The data centre is one of the most significant contributions to Kenya's digital infrastructure. It will bring new jobs, great skills and opportunities for businesses and communities alike. Airtel's decision to locate here sends a very loud message of confidence to Kenya and East Africa and the rest of the world.”
He closed by acknowledging the teams from Airtel, Nxtra, and Tatu City for their persistence and collaboration in bringing the project to this stage.
Conclusion
The groundbreaking ceremony at Tatu City marked the beginning of construction on Airtel Africa’s Nxtra data centre. From the speeches of Ashish Malhotra and Stephen Jennings, the project was presented as both a step forward in Airtel’s network expansion and a validation of Tatu City’s role as a green, future-ready hub for Africa’s digital economy.