Earlier this month, I had the privilege of visiting Africa Data Centres’ NBO1 facility in Nairobi, where I sat down with Dan Kwach, the Regional Executive for East Africa, for an insightful session on the Pure Digital Passion podcast. The conversation was a deep dive into the critical role Africa Data Centres (ADC) plays in driving the region’s digital transformation and what the future holds for this vital sector.

ADC continues to stand tall as Africa’s largest interconnected, carrier- and cloud-neutral data centre network. Through its state-of-the-art facilities, ADC ensures businesses across industries benefit from rapid, secure, and reliable digital services. The NBO1 facility itself is exceptional, housing over 100 network service providers and hosting 70% of East Africa’s financial institutions. As Dan revealed during our session, ADC is currently operating at 95% capacity, which is a reflection of the growing demand for robust and secure data solutions in the region.

One of the highlights of the conversation was ADC’s ongoing expansion in Nairobi, where they’re building out an additional floor to increase their data centre capacity. This expansion is not just about scale — it’s about introducing AI-ready infrastructure that can support next-generation workloads. Dan shared how AI, data sovereignty, and the arrival of hyperscalers are reshaping the region’s data centre landscape, creating immense opportunities for innovation and growth.

Another key topic was sustainability. ADC’s commitment to green energy solutions, including solar power installations and water-free cooling systems, demonstrates their leadership in creating environmentally responsible data infrastructure. This isn’t just about reducing their carbon footprint; it’s about setting the standard for the entire industry.

Data sovereignty was another focal point. As governments and businesses prioritize local data hosting due to privacy concerns and regulatory frameworks, ADC is uniquely positioned to provide secure, compliant environments for sensitive data. Dan emphasized how data centres like NBO1 are critical to Kenya’s ambitions of becoming a digital and innovation hub for East Africa.

The conversation also touched on the challenges and opportunities in the industry. While ADC’s success highlights the region’s progress, there is still room to grow — Africa accounts for just 3% of the global data centre capacity. However, as Dan rightly pointed out, this statistic represents a massive opportunity for growth as more international players invest in the continent’s digital infrastructure.

For me, this session reaffirmed the transformative impact of data centres on East Africa’s economy. ADC is not just building facilities; it’s building trust, empowering businesses, and driving innovation in Kenya and East Africa, at scale.