Microsoft begins search for new Kenya country manager as Phyllis Migwi exits
Microsoft has begun the search for a new Kenya country manager following the planned exit of Phyllis Migwi, who will leave the role in February after three and a half years at the helm.
Migwi confirmed her departure in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, describing her time at Microsoft as enriching and signalling that the company is ready for a new phase of leadership. She pointed to the growing importance of Microsoft’s work in Kenya and the wider region, particularly around government engagement, business enablement, and community impact.
She noted that while significant progress has been made, there remains substantial untapped potential, adding that the next leader will need to be vision-led to sustain and expand the momentum built over recent years.
Her exit comes at a pivotal moment for Microsoft in East Africa. The company is preparing to bring its East Africa Azure cloud region and local data centre online, marking a transition from long-term investment announcements to the operational reality of running live cloud infrastructure in Kenya. The incoming country manager will oversee this shift while navigating internal organisational changes that are reshaping how Microsoft teams work.
Microsoft has already listed the Kenya country manager role on LinkedIn, signalling the start of a formal recruitment process. During Migwi’s tenure, the company significantly deepened its presence in Kenya’s tech ecosystem. In March 2025, Microsoft supported the hosting of Africa’s largest Global AI Tour conference in Nairobi, reinforcing Kenya’s position as a continental hub for artificial intelligence innovation and adoption.
Migwi also played a central role in driving AI adoption across sectors such as healthcare, finance, and retail, while pushing digital inclusion through initiatives like Airband, Microsoft’s broadband access programme aimed at expanding rural connectivity.
One of the most consequential developments during her leadership was Microsoft’s announcement of a $1 billion digital investment in Kenya, in partnership with UAE-based G42. The investment is anchored on a green data centre that will host a new East Africa Azure cloud region, a project that positions Kenya as a strategic cloud and data hub for the region.
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Microsoft’s broader strategy in Kenya has focused on cloud infrastructure, AI and data capabilities, and large-scale digital skilling and employability programmes targeting young Africans. The company has also expanded its engagement with SMEs and startups, offering cloud and AI tools while working with local partners to modernise key industries and strengthen the country’s AI skills ecosystem.
The leadership transition coincides with a shift in Microsoft’s global workplace policy. The company is moving toward a mandatory three-day-in-office model across major hubs, with the policy expected to extend to international locations through 2026. This marks a departure from the highly flexible remote arrangements adopted after the pandemic and is likely to reshape how Microsoft teams in Kenya operate as a new country manager takes charge.
