looking back at my 8+ year journey as a developer, i'm struck by how diverse the problems have been, yet how similar the core principles remain. from healthcare systems in kenya to telecommunications platforms serving millions, here's what i've learned about turning complex problems into simple, scalable solutions.
the healthcare foundation (2016-2019)
my journey began at ampath, working on healthcare systems that directly impacted over 100,000 patients. this wasn't just about code, it was about building tools that healthcare workers relied on to save lives.
the biggest lesson? reliability isn't optional. when a system crash could delay patient care, you learn to:
- write defensive code
- plan for edge cases
- value simplicity over cleverness
- test, test, and test again
we migrated the ampath point of care system from angularjs to angular 2, and the experience taught me that successful migrations aren't just technical, they're about change management and user experience.
scaling for millions (2019-2021)
moving to andela opened doors to larger, scale challenges. working on the mysafaricom platform used by over 1 million users was my first taste of building for true scale.
key insights from this period:
- performance matters at scale: what works for 1,000 users breaks at 100,000
- monitoring is everything: you can't fix what you can't see
- user feedback drives iteration: the best features come from listening to real users
building the lipa mdogo mdogo credit, financing app was particularly rewarding, helping 500,000+ kenyans access smartphones. it reinforced my belief that technology should democratize access, not create barriers.
whether building the safaricom cms or the mycounty digital services platform, i've learned that the best solutions often appear simple on the surface but are sophisticated underneath.
principles that guide my approach:
- start with the user problem, not the technology
- choose boring technology for critical paths
- optimize for readability—your future self will thank you
- build incrementally, ship frequently
leading cross-functional teams (2021-2025)
the transition to senior roles brought new challenges. at sovtech, i led development of lucania, an e-coaching platform that required deep product thinking and user psychology understanding.
leadership lessons:
- empathy scales better than ego: understanding your team's strengths leads to better outcomes
- technical debt is real debt: pay it down regularly or face compound interest
- product thinking is essential: understanding the "why" behind features leads to better technical decisions
current focus: cloud and ai integration
currently pursuing cloud computing at durham college while working on side projects like tingo hub (pharmacy management saas) and farmers pad (agricultural society management).
the intersection of cloud architecture and ai presents exciting opportunities to solve problems at unprecedented scale and sophistication.
what's next?
after 8 years, i'm more excited about software development than ever. the tools keep evolving, the problems keep getting more interesting, and the potential for positive impact keeps growing.
whether you're just starting your journey or are a seasoned developer, remember: the best code doesn't just solve today's problem, it enables tomorrow's possibilities.
what complex problems are you working on? i'd love to hear about your journey and the lessons you're learning along the way.