Global tech giant Microsoft has announced plans to lay off 6,000 employees worldwide, representing approximately 3% of its total workforce. The move will affect teams across all regions, including Africa, with uncertainty looming over how many jobs will be lost in Kenya.
The company stated that the layoffs are intended to eliminate “unnecessary layers of management” and boost operational efficiency. This marks Microsoft’s second-largest layoff since 2023, when it let go of 10,000 employees. In January 2025, additional staff were laid off due to performance-related issues, according to CNBC.
Kenya, which hosts Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Nairobi, is among the countries potentially affected. Established in 2019, the ADC has employed hundreds of specialists in software development, machine learning, and data science. However, Microsoft has not disclosed the specific regions or roles that will be most impacted by the latest cuts.
As Kenya continues to position itself as a regional tech hub, attracting major players like Google and Microsoft, the news raises concerns about job stability in the sector. Similar layoffs have been seen across the tech industry as companies shift focus toward emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Microsoft’s workforce stood at 228,000 employees as of June 2024. Despite global growth in tech demand, the company’s hiring has remained largely stagnant since 2022, the same year AI platforms like ChatGPT surged in prominence.
Written By Rodney Mbua
