Artificial intelligence adoption is accelerating demand for data storage globally and contributing to supply delays for enterprise hard drives, Tosh NXT Tech Ventures Managing Director Santosh Varghese said at the GITEX Kenya forum held in Nairobi last week.

Varghese, whose firm is a commercial partner for Toshiba Europe managing the company’s data storage business across the Middle East and Africa, told the forum that growing use of AI in business and government is increasing pressure on organisations to expand data centre capacity and enterprise storage systems.

“Today, data is a currency. Because there’s an AI revolution happening, and for AI engines to work, you need to have data,” Varghese said.

The company cited research indicating that nearly 166 zettabytes of data will be generated globally within the next few years, a trend it said is pushing institutions to invest in reliable storage systems. Tosh NXT did not name the source of the research in its statement.

Varghese said AI systems require large volumes of stored information for training, analytics and automation, putting data centres and enterprise storage infrastructure at the centre of digital transformation programmes. He added that demand has tightened supply in some markets. “There’s a massive demand for Hard Disk Drives across all categories, mainly Enterprise HDD because businesses and hyperscalers are implementing large AI solutions,” he said.

He said some customers are experiencing delivery delays, with certain businesses waiting up to four months to acquire hard drives for major projects, attributing the situation to global shortages of storage devices.

At the event, the company showcased Toshiba’s MG Series enterprise hard disk drives and related technologies, including high-capacity models starting from 24 terabytes. Tosh NXT also pointed to Toshiba’s roadmap that includes a 32TB hard drive designed for data centres and AI applications, according to the statement.

Varghese said some enterprise hard drives use helium-filled technology intended to reduce heat generation and power consumption in large-scale data centres. The company said enterprise hard drives remain among the most in-demand products globally, particularly among banks, hospitals, universities and large technology firms operating data centres.

Beyond enterprise infrastructure, Toshiba also supplies storage products for surveillance systems, small businesses and consumers, Tosh NXT said. Varghese noted that surveillance storage demand is rising alongside AI-enabled security systems and smart monitoring technologies.

According to the company, Toshiba launched the S300 AI Surveillance Hard Drive last year, which it said can support up to 64 CCTV cameras and handle 32 AI video feeds continuously throughout the year.

The statement positions Kenya and other African markets as growth areas as organisations invest in cloud infrastructure, AI and broader digital transformation. For Kenya’s business landscape, increased demand for data storage has implications for data centre investment, IT procurement cycles and the cost of deploying AI workloads, especially for regulated sectors such as banking and healthcare that must retain and protect large datasets.

Varghese said organisations are also changing how they use stored information, shifting from long-term retention to more active analytics aimed at improving efficiency. “Businesses are not just storing data and keeping it for seven or ten years. They are analyzing the data and using it for business applications,” he said.

Looking ahead, continued AI uptake is likely to keep demand elevated for enterprise storage and surveillance-grade drives, potentially sustaining longer lead times for hardware procurement as Kenyan firms expand data centre capacity and modernise digital infrastructure.

AHI Carrier, a joint venture of Carrier Global Corporation, has opened its first dealer-based Carrier and Toshiba HVAC showroom in Nairobi, partnering with North Star Cooling Systems, as it seeks to expand its presence in Kenya and the wider East African market.

The showroom was inaugurated on February 16, 2026, by Afaf Kontar, Chief Executive Officer of AHI Carrier, together with Kishore Reddy, Managing Director of North Star Cooling Systems, according to a statement issued by the companies.

The opening adds a physical customer-facing facility to support sales and technical engagement around heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at a time when Kenya’s construction pipeline continues to be driven by urbanisation, commercial developments and new requirements around energy performance in buildings.

AHI Carrier said the facility is designed as “a fully integrated HVAC experience and reference center,” targeting developers, consultants, engineers and contractors who want to evaluate system capabilities and suitability for local operating conditions.

In its statement, the company linked the launch to growing demand for “reliable, energy-efficient cooling solutions” across commercial, residential, healthcare and data-driven developments. While the company did not disclose the value of the investment, the move signals a push to deepen on-the-ground engagement in Kenya’s built environment and mechanical services supply chain.

Beyond showcasing equipment, the companies said the showroom will also be used for technical collaboration, certified training and project advisory services. AHI Carrier said the intention is to build local technical capacity and support professional development as part of efforts to “raise industry standards and strengthen the regional HVAC ecosystem.”

During the inauguration, Ms. Afaf Kontar said Kenya is central to the company’s East Africa strategy. “Kenya remains central to AHI Carrier’s East Africa strategy,” she said, adding that the showroom reflects “a clear commitment to long-term partnership and local market development.” She said the facility would enable customers to experience “real-time operational performance” and better understand the “measurable value of advanced HVAC technologies.”

Mr. Kishore Reddy said the showroom is intended to support North Star Cooling Systems’ growth ambitions in the region. He described the opening as “a milestone in North Star Cooling Systems’ regional growth journey,” and said the facility offers a collaborative environment for customers and consultants to engage directly with “high-efficiency solutions aligned with evolving market expectations.”

The launch comes as HVAC demand in Kenya is influenced by several parallel trends: expansion of modern office and retail space, growth in hospitals and specialised healthcare facilities, increasing installation of mission-critical cooling for data and digital infrastructure, and tighter scrutiny of operating costs in buildings due to electricity prices. In this context, dealer-based showrooms can help shorten decision cycles by allowing project teams to review specifications, compare options and coordinate after-sales support early in the procurement process.

For Kenya’s HVAC market, the move may intensify competition among major equipment brands and distributors, especially in commercial and institutional segments where technical compliance, installation quality and maintenance capability can be decisive. The emphasis on training and advisory services could also raise expectations around certification and service standards among contractors and technicians.

AHI Carrier and North Star Cooling Systems said the partnership aims to make HVAC technologies more accessible in Kenya and East Africa, while responding to infrastructure demand. The companies did not provide a timeline for additional openings, but described the Nairobi facility as part of a regional expansion strategy and a platform for continued local market development.