Staff at Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Nairobi were told on Monday, October 12, 2026, that the centre’s engineering operation is closing, according to an employee source reported by CIO Africa.
A Microsoft spokesperson said the “proposed changes” are part of a global restructuring that has impacted the engineering department in Kenya, but the company will continue operating in the country and supporting regional customers, without giving details on employee numbers, timelines or transfer options.
On the same day, ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo met a Microsoft delegation led by Jeff Bullwinkel, vice-president and deputy general counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Angela Ng’ang’a, Microsoft’s East Africa lead. Kabogo said Microsoft briefed him on its “evolving operations in Kenya”, urged the protection of local talent and jobs at the Nairobi engineering centre, and pledged to draft a joint action plan on AI in government, digitising public services, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and skills.
Microsoft announced the ADC in May 2019 with a five-year, $100 million investment, selecting Nairobi and Lagos as its initial hubs. The Nairobi centre opened in March 2022, housed more than 450 full-time engineers and product leaders, and was headed by managing director Catherine Muraga from June 2022. The site also hosts Microsoft Research Africa and the Microsoft Garage, working on identity, Microsoft 365, Windows, security and developer tools.
The Lagos ADC was closed in 2024. Microsoft cut about 4,800 roles globally in July 2026 – roughly 2.1 per cent of its workforce – mainly in sales and Xbox, and eliminated another 268 Xbox jobs on September 22. Earlier rounds included 6,000 jobs in May 2025. Late September 2026, former senior product manager Kipkorir Arap Kirui described employee accounts of performance improvement plans and voluntary exit offers.
Kenya’s Employment Act, 2007, outlines redundancy procedures; a performance improvement plan or a voluntary exit does not, by itself, constitute a breach of the law.
The number of jobs at risk, the timetable for any changes and whether engineers will be transferred remain unclear, leaving questions about the impact on Kenya’s technology talent pool and investor confidence, while Microsoft affirmed its continued presence in Kenya and support for regional customers.
