Kenya has taken a major step toward becoming a regional centre for artificial intelligence and cloud computing with the introduction of locally hosted GPU‑accelerated cloud infrastructure powered by NVIDIA technology.
Companies at the forefront of this development say the new infrastructure will help bridge Africa’s longstanding digital compute gap, allowing organisations to run advanced AI workloads without relying solely on offshore cloud systems.
One of the key milestones came in November 2025, when Atlancis Technologies, through its Servernah Cloud brand, unveiled East and Central Africa’s first GPU‑powered artificial intelligence (AI) factory at iXAfrica Data Centres in Nairobi. The facility — designed using Open Compute Project standards and powered by NVIDIA GPUs — delivers hyperscale computing capacity for machine learning, deep learning, data analytics and other AI workloads.
“This is more than HPCs and GPUs, it’s the heart of Africa’s AI revolution,” said Daniel Njuguna, Founder and CEO of Atlancis Technologies, describing the deployment as a turning point for African innovation.
The GPU infrastructure is hosted at iXAfrica’s NBOX1 campus, the region’s largest carrier‑neutral, AI‑ready data centre, which provides high‑density power, low latency connectivity and resilient uptime for cloud and compute services.
“At iXAfrica, we see this deployment as a defining step in Africa’s AI infrastructure story,” said Snehar Shah, CEO of iXAfrica Data Centres. “Partnerships like this are how we build the foundation for an intelligent future, locally powered and globally competitive.”
Partners in the project include Kenya‑based Everse Technology, which emphasised the strategic importance of localised GPU compute. Michael Michie, co‑founder and CEO of Everse Technology, said AI‑ready infrastructure is “the first step to unlocking Africa’s AI opportunity” and will enable applications to scale across sectors without data leaving the continent.
Consider reading: Dubia ambitious to build and attract global AI companies
Beyond hardware deployments, Africa’s largest technology infrastructure firm, Cassava Technologies, which is an official NVIDIA Cloud Partner (NCP), is expanding AI cloud services across the continent. The company recently launched its Cassava Cloud Partner programme, offering mobile network operators and system integrators access to NVIDIA Cloud Partner solutions, turnkey AI Factory stacks and its own local multi‑model AI platform.
“Through the CCP programme, we are working with partners to extend access to AI infrastructure, cloud platforms, digital capabilities and solutions enabling enterprises, developers, and entrepreneurs across the continent to build and deploy AI‑powered solutions,” said Ahmed El Beheiry, Group COO and Group Chief Technology & AI Officer at Cassava Technologies.
Also read: Google Africa AI Investment
Industry observers say these regional developments are part of a broader “sovereign AI” trend, in which African countries and technology companies seek to build and host AI compute capacity within the continent, reducing dependency on global hyperscale cloud providers and ensuring compliance with local data laws.
While companies such as Microsoft and other global cloud operators are also investing in East African cloud infrastructure, the recent NVIDIA‑powered GPU deployments in Nairobi represent one of the first locally accessible high‑performance computing environments for AI developers, researchers and enterprises in the region.
Senior Reporter/Editor
Bio: Ugochukwu is a freelance journalist and Editor at AIbase.ng, with a strong professional focus on investigative reporting. He holds a degree in Mass Communication and brings extensive experience in news gathering, reporting, and editorial writing. With over a decade of active engagement across diverse news outlets, he contributes in-depth analytical, practical, and expository articles exploring artificial intelligence and its real-world impact. His seasoned newsroom experience and well-established information networks provide AIbase.ng with credible, timely, and high-quality coverage of emerging AI developments.