The financing will enable iXAfrica to meet the demand for cloud services, AI workloads, and hyperscale data needs accelerating across East Africa.
IX Africa Data Centre Limited (iXAfrica) has closed a multi-tranche funding package with Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), a division of FirstRand Limited, to accelerate the next phase of its expansion in Kenya, it announced September 4. The financing amount was not disclosed.
The financing will enable iXAfrica to add 20 MW of IT power at its Nairobi campus, building on the initial 2.25 MW already operational. Guy Willner, Chairman of iXAfrica, said the agreement secures the company’s next growth stage. “Closing this financing with RMB positions us to welcome more hyperscale and AI customers. We remain committed to expanding our East African footprint and deepening our investment in Kenya.”
RMB designed a customised financing solution, underscoring its commitment to supporting Africa’s digital infrastructure. “This transaction reflects RMB’s commitment to supporting scalable, high-impact digital infrastructure across Africa,” said Corrie Cronje, Senior Transactor at RMB.
iXAfrica’s Nairobi One Campus is designed to deliver a total capacity of 22.5 MW, making it the largest data centre project in the greater East African region. Serving a population of over 300 million people, the facility is strategically located near key fibre optic arteries and resilient power sources.
The expansion highlights a growing trend across Africa, where data centre capacity is rapidly scaling to meet the continent’s digital transformation goals. According to a joint report by the Africa Data Centres Association (ADCA) and Xalam Analytics, Africa needs around 1,000 MW of additional IT power and 700 new data center facilities to meet the growing demand driven by cloud adoption, e-commerce, and AI applications.
This surge is largely due to structural shifts in the continent’s digital landscape—like the doubling of broadband users and the rapid expansion of Tier III and above data centers. For Kenya, the availability of robust data infrastructure is critical to supporting innovation, attracting investment, and positioning Nairobi as a regional tech hub.
For iXAfrica, the financing secures the resources needed to accelerate its Nairobi campus buildout and expand its total capacity to 22.5 MW. This positions the company to attract hyperscalers, cloud service providers, and AI-driven businesses that require high-density infrastructure.
The partnership with Rand Merchant Bank not only strengthens iXAfrica’s credibility in the investment community but also signals its financial stability to prospective clients. With demand for data hosting and cloud services surging across Kenya and East Africa, the deal creates significant revenue growth opportunities.
Beyond Kenya, the transaction demonstrates iXAfrica’s ability to raise large-scale capital, laying the groundwork for future regional expansion and reinforcing its status as East Africa’s largest carrier-neutral hyperscale data centre operator.
Hikmatu Bilali
