Microsoft informed staff at its Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Nairobi on Monday, 12 October, that the engineering facility will be shut down.

The notification was followed by a meeting between a Microsoft delegation led by Jeff Bullwinkel, vice‑president and deputy general counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Kenya’s ICT Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo.

Cabinet Secretary Kabogo said he used the meeting to push back against the closure’s potential impact on Kenyan workers and the broader investment climate.

Microsoft acknowledged the uncertainty created by the decision but reiterated its long‑term commitment to Kenya and said it will work with the ministry on a joint action plan.

The company has not disclosed how many employees will be affected or the exact timeline for the shutdown.

The Nairobi ADC has been a flagship of Microsoft’s investment in African tech talent, established to harness engineering expertise across the continent.

The closure forms part of a broader global restructuring by Microsoft, which has been reducing staff in other markets in recent months.

During the meeting, both sides also discussed the adoption of artificial intelligence in government, digital public‑service delivery, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and skills training delivered through Kenyan universities.

CIO Africa reported that Microsoft is engaging directly with its Kenyan employees about the proposed changes.