Phyllis Migwi, the Kenya Country Manager at Microsoft, has announced plans to exit the company after more than three years at the helm of its Kenyan operations.
Migwi disclosed her decision in a LinkedIn post, confirming that her departure will take effect in February, closing a leadership chapter defined by Microsoft’s growing influence across Kenya’s technology, enterprise, and public sectors.
Migwi Describes Exit as Start of a New Chapter
Reflecting on her time at Microsoft, Migwi framed the transition as both reflective and forward-looking, expressing pride in the progress achieved during her tenure.
“After an enriching 3.5 years, I’ll be transitioning from my role this February,” she said, adding that it had been an honour to lead Microsoft’s mission in Kenya before handing over the reins.
Steering Microsoft Kenya Through Rapid Growth
Migwi joined Microsoft in 2022, coinciding with a broader expansion drive across Africa. Under her leadership, Microsoft strengthened its presence in Kenya through cloud infrastructure investments, digital skills programmes, and deeper enterprise adoption.
Her tenure aligned with the company’s continental priorities, including the expansion of the African Development Centre, and efforts to position Kenya as a strategic hub for regional innovation and technical talent.
As a result, Kenya became a focal point for Microsoft-led initiatives around cloud migration, digital transformation, and enterprise solutions across East Africa.
Strengthening Government and Ecosystem Partnerships
As Country Manager, Migwi played a central role in Microsoft’s engagement with government institutions, startups, large enterprises, and development partners.
She worked closely with policymakers and industry leaders to advance technology adoption, promote digital inclusion, and support community-focused innovation projects across the country.
Describing Microsoft’s mission in Kenya, Migwi emphasised its long-term importance and unfinished nature.
“From deepening government relationships to empowering businesses and communities, the purpose behind our work has never been clearer,” she said.
Leadership Transition Comes at a Critical Moment
Migwi’s exit comes as Microsoft deepens its role in Africa’s digital economy, raising questions about leadership continuity at a time when sustained government collaboration and ecosystem trust are increasingly important.
Senior leadership changes can influence the pace and direction of partnerships, particularly in markets where long-term policy alignment and institutional relationships are key.
Despite this, Migwi expressed confidence in the company’s future leadership.
“There is still significant potential to build on this impact, and I’m excited to see who will continue the momentum we’ve created,” she noted.
Microsoft Yet to Name a Successor
As of publication, Microsoft has not announced a replacement or shared further details about the transition process for its Kenya operations.
Industry observers will be watching closely as the appointment of a new country manager is expected to shape Microsoft’s next phase of engagement with Kenya’s government, enterprise customers, and rapidly growing tech ecosystem.
