Kenya Minute.
Friday, 26 June 2026
Kenya’s news, on the hour · Est. 2026
Friday, 26 June 2026
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Kenyan press · Organization

Microsoft

Technology company investing in Kenya's data centre infrastructure and involved in AI partnerships with OpenAI.

2026-04-252026-06-26

In coverage

Verbatim sentences from the source article.

  1. May 2026
  2. Citizen Digital

    The company said many Africans already follow major global firms such as Apple, Tesla, Nvidia, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, but accessing those markets has often involved complex onboarding processes, foreign brokerage accounts, currency conversion hurdles, and multiple trading

    Bitget showcases tokenized stocks, global trading tools at Kenya crypto conference
  3. Citizen Digital

    The jury in Oakland federal court found that Musk's claims against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, President Greg Brockman, The OpenAI Foundation and Microsoft were barred by statutes of limitations, leaving the core arguments of the world's richest person largely unaddressed.

    Musk loses blockbuster OpenAI suit as jury says too late
  4. Citizen Digital

    The Microsoft-owned social network plans to cut about ​5% of its headcount as it reorganizes teams and focuses personnel on areas ⁠where its business is growing, said one of the people, on condition ​of anonymity.

    LinkedIn planning to lay off 5% of staff in latest tech-sector cuts
  5. Citizen Digital

    Sam Altman to testify at California tech titan trial By AFP May 13, 2026 01:30 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaks during the Microsoft Build conference at the Seattle Convention Ce

    Sam Altman to testify at California tech titan trial
  6. Citizen Digital

    Others are cybersecurity initiatives with Cisco and AI Hub Africa as well as digital education partnerships with Microsoft and GitHub to enhance teacher capacity.

    Surge in talent and startups signals Kenya’s new digital frontier
  7. Citizen Digital

    Microsoft boss to testify on his role in OpenAI's founding By AFP May 11, 2026 08:03 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella gestures as he speaks during the World Economic Forum (WEF) a

    Microsoft boss to testify on his role in OpenAI's founding
  8. Citizen Digital

    Kenya’s Ksh.129B Microsoft Data Centre project still on, Ambassador Thigo clarifies By Willy Lusige May 09, 2026 05:47 (EAT) Add as a Preferred Source on Google Follow us Follow on Whatsapp Follow on Google Follow on Twitter Kenya’s Special Tech Envoy, Amb Philip Thigo.

    Kenya’s Ksh.129B Microsoft Data Centre project still on, Ambassador Thigo clarifies
  9. Citizen Digital

    The software also integrates with Microsoft and Google workplace products. Factorial said it has established a local office in Nairobi to support implementation and customer service, with Kenya expected to serve as its regional base for expansion into other East African markets.

    KEPSA, Factorial partner to push AI-driven HR digitisation in Kenya
  10. The Standard

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, whose company is accused of illegally funding OpenAI's commercial transformation, may also testify this week.

    Musk vs OpenAI trial enters second week
  11. Citizen Digital

    A concern haunting investors is that Apple appears to be easing into generative AI while rivals Google, Microsoft and OpenAI race ahead.

    Apple earnings beat forecasts on iPhone 17 demand
Business

OpenAI unveils custom AI chip Jalapeno for faster inference

The News

OpenAI has unveiled Jalapeno, a custom-designed semiconductor chip co-developed with Broadcom to run ChatGPT and AI products faster and more cheaply. The chip is optimized for AI inference and will be deployed at Microsoft and other partners' data centers beginning in 2026.

25 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Yesterday

  1. OpenAI unveils custom AI chip Jalapeno for faster inference

    OpenAI has unveiled Jalapeno, a custom-designed semiconductor chip co-developed with Broadcom to run ChatGPT and AI products faster and more cheaply. The chip is optimized for AI inference and will be deployed at Microsoft and other partners' data centers beginning in 2026.

    25 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. OpenAI unveils custom AI chip Jalapeno for faster inference

    OpenAI has unveiled Jalapeno, its first custom-designed computer chip co-developed with Broadcom, built to run ChatGPT and other AI products faster and more cheaply by focusing on AI inference. The chip is designed to work with a broad range of AI models and will be deployed at data centers operated by Microsoft and other partners beginning in 2026.

    25 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  3. Bill Gates testifies Epstein attempted blackmail over affairs

    Microsoft founder Bill Gates told the US House Oversight Committee that late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sought to "blackmail" him over extramarital affairs to keep him in Epstein's orbit. Gates said he was not successfully blackmailed but that Epstein's communications indicated he was considering exploiting knowledge of Gates's affairs.

    25 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  4. Bill Gates testifies Epstein sought to blackmail him

    Microsoft founder Bill Gates told the House Oversight Committee that late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein sought to "blackmail" him over extramarital affairs through "veiled" threats, though Gates stated he was not actually blackmailed. According to a transcript released by the committee, Gates said Epstein considered exploiting knowledge of his affairs to keep him in Epstein's orbit as Gates was distancing himself.

    25 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 23 June

  1. Techno Brain GBS appoints Microsoft executive to board

    Techno Brain Global Business Services has appointed Orebambo Sofola, a former Microsoft executive with more than 30 years of experience in software engineering and cloud technologies, as a Non-Executive Director to support the company's expansion in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital transformation services.

    23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Techno Brain GBS appoints former Microsoft executive to board

    Techno Brain Global Business Services has appointed former Microsoft executive Orebambo Sofola as a Non-Executive Director. Sofola brings more than 30 years of experience in software engineering, cloud technologies and business development across Africa, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia.

    23 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Monday 15 June

  1. Ruto attends G7 summit to advocate for African economic interests

    President William Ruto has departed for France to attend the Group of Seven Leaders' Summit, where Kenya—invited alongside Brazil, India and South Korea—will press for reform of the global financial system, lower borrowing costs for African economies, expanded trade and investment access, and continental positions on artificial intelligence governance. On the summit's sidelines, Ruto is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with heads of state and engage technology company executives from OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Meta and Anthropic to seek partnerships for job creation and digital infrastructure investment in Kenya.

    15 June 2026 · The Standard

Wednesday 10 June

  1. UAE real estate magnate invests billions in global data centres

    Hussain Sajwani, chairman of DAMAC Properties and second on Forbes' Arab rich-list, is investing billions into data centres across 13 countries, aiming to capitalize on AI boom and become the global leader in the field.

    10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Bill Gates questioned by US Congress over Epstein ties

    Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates faced questioning from the House Oversight Committee over his relationship with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, following Justice Department documents raising questions about his contacts with the disgraced financier who died in jail in 2019.

    10 June 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 23 May

  1. Kenya's $1 billion Microsoft data centre project faces power capacity concerns

    Kenya's $1 billion Microsoft-G42 data centre project in Olkaria, announced during President Ruto's 2024 US State Visit, is now in limbo as questions arise over whether the country's electricity generation capacity can support the mega project. President Ruto has publicly admitted the country's current power capacity may be inadequate for the facility.

    23 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 20 May

  1. Bitget presents tokenized stocks platform at Kenya crypto conference

    Global cryptocurrency exchange Bitget showcased its Universal Exchange ecosystem at the Kenya Blockchain and Crypto Conference 2026, highlighting tokenized stocks, stock perpetuals, and traditional financial products designed to simplify African access to global financial markets previously hindered by complex onboarding and currency conversion barriers.

    20 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Tuesday 19 May

  1. Musk loses OpenAI lawsuit on statute of limitations grounds

    A federal jury ruled that billionaire Elon Musk waited too long to sue OpenAI and its co-founders, finding his claims barred by statutes of limitations. The decision ended a three-week trial in which Musk argued that OpenAI's shift to a profit-driven model violated its original nonprofit mandate.

    19 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Thursday 14 May

  1. LinkedIn to cut 5% of staff amid tech sector restructuring

    LinkedIn, owned by Microsoft, plans to lay off 5% of its workforce—roughly 875 employees based on its global headcount of more than 17,500—as it reorganizes teams and redirects personnel to growing business areas. The cuts come as LinkedIn's revenue rose 12% in the latest quarter, and the company stated the layoffs are not motivated by artificial intelligence job replacement.

    14 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 13 May

  1. Sam Altman to testify in Musk's OpenAI lawsuit trial

    OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was expected to take the stand in a California civil trial brought by Elon Musk, who alleges that Altman and co-founder Greg Brockman misappropriated his $38 million donations when OpenAI shifted from nonprofit to for-profit status. Musk is calling for OpenAI to revert to nonprofit status, while OpenAI contends that Musk's motivation is revenge after failing to gain majority control.

    13 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Monday 11 May

  1. Kenya emerges as continental AI leader amid startup surge

    Kenya has seen a sharp rise in AI-focused startups over the past five years that target challenges across agriculture, healthcare, fintech, logistics, and climate resilience, driven by a growing pool of skilled developers, data scientists, and AI researchers supported by expanded access to AI education.

    11 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Microsoft CEO to testify in Musk's OpenAI lawsuit

    Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is expected to testify in Elon Musk's lawsuit against OpenAI regarding Microsoft's funding of OpenAI's shift from a nonprofit to a for-profit company. Musk accuses OpenAI of abandoning its original nonprofit mission and misusing his $38 million in founding donations.

    11 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Saturday 9 May

  1. Kenya's Ksh129 billion Microsoft data centre project proceeds

    Kenya's Special Tech Envoy Amb Philip Thigo has dismissed reports that the Ksh.129 billion Microsoft-G42 data centre project has been suspended, clarifying that President Ruto's remarks on energy capacity were not a halt signal but an acknowledgement of the need to expand electricity generation to support the facility.

    9 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Friday 8 May

  1. KEPSA, Factorial partner on AI-driven HR digitisation

    The Kenya Private Sector Alliance and HR software firm Factorial have partnered to accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence-driven workplace technologies among Kenyan businesses, with Factorial's USD 10 million AI Acceleration Fund subsidising up to half the implementation costs for companies adopting the company's HR solutions.

    8 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Monday 4 May

  1. Musk's OpenAI lawsuit trial advances into second week

    Elon Musk's federal lawsuit against OpenAI, seeking to force the AI company to revert to a non-profit foundation, enters its second week with testimony from OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman scheduled for Monday in Oakland. Musk testified last week that he contributed $38 million to OpenAI between 2016 and 2020 as a counterbalance to Google's dominance and to keep transformative AI technology free from profit-driven pressures.

    4 May 2026 · The Standard

Friday 1 May

  1. Apple reports best March quarter ever on iPhone 17 sales

    Apple posted profit of $29.6 billion on revenue of $111.2 billion in its March quarter, with iPhone demand and digital services helping it beat expectations. iPhone sales grew double digits in every country where Apple does business.

    1 May 2026 · Citizen Digital

Wednesday 29 April

  1. Ruto links Kenya power expansion to Microsoft data centre deal

    President William Ruto has identified a need to increase Kenya's electricity generation capacity from 3,300 to 10,000 megawatts within 5 to 7 years to support industrialization, linking the urgency to Kenya's deals with Big Tech firms including a Ksh130 billion geothermal-powered data center agreement signed during his 2024 US visit with Microsoft, G42, and EcoCloud. Ruto also announced that airport construction to replace Jomo Kenyatta International Airport will begin in June at a cost of KSh180 billion, with funding from the National Infrastructure Fund and the private sector.

    29 April 2026 · Capital News

Tuesday 28 April

  1. National Assembly plans cloud and AI upgrade for broadcasting

    The National Assembly is adopting cloud-based technologies to modernize its broadcasting systems and enhance live coverage of House proceedings following a benchmarking mission to the NAB Show 2026 in Las Vegas. The delegation also plans to use insights from the summit to inform an ongoing review of Kenya's media laws and regulatory frameworks.

    28 April 2026 · The Standard

Monday 27 April

  1. 600 Google staff oppose classified Pentagon AI contract

    More than 600 Google employees have called on CEO Sundar Pichai to reject a proposed Pentagon deal to deploy the company's Gemini AI model in classified military operations, citing concerns that classified workloads are opaque and could be leveraged to harm civil liberties or target civilians without public scrutiny.

    27 April 2026 · Citizen Digital

  2. Global carbon market tightening threatens Kenya's climate finance revenue

    Kenya's carbon market, currently valued at about Sh80 billion, faces pressure as major buyers like Microsoft shift toward higher-quality carbon credits, potentially shutting out projects that fail stricter verification requirements. The country accounts for roughly 23 per cent of Africa's voluntary carbon credit value, but access to global carbon finance will increasingly depend on credibility rather than volume.

    27 April 2026 · The Standard

Saturday 25 April

  1. Oil prices fall as Iran peace talks resume prospects emerge

    Oil prices dropped after reports that Iran's Foreign Minister was to arrive in Islamabad for anticipated second-round Middle East talks between the United States and Iran, signalling potential de-escalation. Brent crude fell below $100 a barrel, while global equities climbed on optimism about the ceasefire extension between Israel and Lebanon and strong corporate earnings, though German business morale hit its lowest level since the Covid pandemic.

    25 April 2026 · Citizen Digital

Microsoft — Kenyan press coverage · Kenya Minute