Microsoft to Close Its Africa Development Centre Engineering Operations in Nairobi

Microsoft is preparing to close the engineering operations of its Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Nairobi, according to employees briefed on the restructuring. The company has referred to “proposed changes” to its engineering operations in Kenya while saying it will remain in the country, retain employees and continue supporting customers and digital initiatives. Launched in 2019 in Nairobi and Lagos, the ADC was intended to integrate African engineers into Microsoft’s global teams; Microsoft announced a $100 million investment and a target of 500 engineers across the two centres by 2023. A closure would remove a prominent source of high-value technology jobs in Kenya, but would not mean Microsoft is withdrawing from the country entirely.