Kenya regulator opens consultation on data center licensing 💻🇰🇪

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Kenya is preparing to overhaul the regulatory framework for its data centers. On September 8, 2026, the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) opened a public consultation on creating a dedicated license category for this digital infrastructure.

A dedicated framework for data centers 🏢💻

The plan would pull colocation data centers out of the regime currently applied to network facility providers. They would instead fall under a specific license covering colocation services and related offerings.

With this shift, the regulator says it wants to bring more clarity to the rules governing data center operations. The new framework is also meant to make it easier to track their activity and, in turn, support growing investment in digital infrastructure.

A consultation open to the whole industry 📢🌐

To move the new framework forward, the Communications Authority of Kenya is inviting stakeholders and the public to submit feedback. The consultation focuses specifically on the licensing framework envisioned for colocation data center operations in Kenya. It’s meant to gather input from different players before the new license category is finalized.

This Kenyan initiative could be part of a broader push to formalize digital infrastructure across Africa, where data centers are playing an increasingly central role.

Do you think a dedicated license could help regulate data centers more effectively — and attract more digital investment? Let us know in the comments. 🤔