Microsoft Kenya’s Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Nairobi has laid off and is rumored to be laying off some more of its employees, with at least 20 product managers expected to be affected. This comes just a year after the tech giant announced its commitment to developing tech talent in Africa with the establishment of two new offices for the ADC in Nairobi and Lagos, Nigeria. The unexpected news has raised concerns in the African tech market, where Microsoft has been viewed as a major player in Kenya’s rapidly growing tech sector.
Microsoft’s ADC in Nairobi was established in 2019, three years after the company’s successful operation in Lagos, Nigeria. The center was created to develop tech talent in Africa and support the growth of local tech ecosystems. The ADC in Nairobi focuses on areas such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and mixed reality. Microsoft has invested heavily in partnerships with local businesses and government agencies and has promoted digital literacy and access throughout the country.
According to reports, Microsoft Kenya’s ADC in Nairobi is laying off a significant number of its employees, with at least 20 product managers expected to be affected. The extent of the layoffs and the regions most affected have not been officially disclosed by Microsoft. The news has come as a shock to many in the African tech market, given Microsoft’s commitment to developing tech talent in the region.
Edward Ochieng, the CTO of Sklylab Systems, a Kenyan software development company on Tuesday, March 28 alleged that there is an ongoing layoff at the Microsoft Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Kenya.
“Something bad is happening at Microsoft Kenya (ADC)—layoffs,” Edward tweeted. “They have been expecting it but now it’s happening”. He told Benjamindada.com that some of his friends were affected.
Yesterday, Kipkorir Arap Kirui who has been working as a product manager at Microsoft ADC Kenya since 2021 disclosed that he was laid off. “At 4:30 pm [on Monday, March 27], I was informed that Microsoft had made my role redundant. I have many unanswered questions, and it will take some time to come to terms with this news. However, I do find solace in knowing that it was not due to any performance-related issues,” Kirui wrote in a LinkedIn post.
The layoffs in Microsoft’s ADC in Nairobi have raised concerns among the African tech community about the potential impact on the country’s rapidly growing tech sector. Microsoft has been viewed as a major player in the industry, and its partnerships with local businesses and government agencies have been instrumental in supporting the growth of the local tech ecosystem. The unexpected job cuts have left many wondering whether Microsoft’s commitment to the region can withstand the fallout from the layoffs.
Official Statement from Microsoft Kenya
Despite reports of the layoffs, Microsoft has not yet released an official statement on the matter. The full extent of the job cuts may be difficult to ascertain, as affected employees may be bound by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs). The lack of official communication from the company has further fueled speculation and concerns about the layoffs.
However, earlier this year, Microsoft announced that it is laying off 10,000 employees due to macroeconomic conditions and changing customer priorities.
“As we saw customers accelerate their digital spend during the pandemic, we’re now seeing them optimize their digital spend to do more with less,” Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella says. “We are also seeing organizations in every industry and geography exercise caution as some parts of the world are in a recession and other parts are anticipating one.”
The rumored layoffs in Microsoft Kenya’s ADC in Nairobi have sent shockwaves through the African tech market. With Microsoft being viewed as a major player in Kenya’s rapidly growing tech sector, the unexpected job cuts have raised concerns about the potential impact on the local tech ecosystem. The lack of official communication from Microsoft has further fueled speculation and concerns about the layoffs. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether Microsoft’s commitment to the region can withstand the fallout from the layoffs and if the company will maintain its reputation as a key contributor to Kenya’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.
This is an ongoing story, keep it Techspace Africa to get notified as it updates
FAQs
- What is Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre in Nairobi? Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre in Nairobi was established in 2019 to develop tech talent in Africa and support the growth of local tech ecosystems.
- How many employees are being laid off from Microsoft Kenya’s ADC in Nairobi? The extent of the layoffs has not been officially disclosed, but at least 20 product managers are expected to be affected.
- What impact will the layoffs have on Kenya’s tech ecosystem? The unexpected job cuts have raised concerns about the potential impact on the local tech ecosystem, as Microsoft has been viewed as a major player in Kenya’s rapidly growing tech sector.
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