The Developer Issue · Nairobi Edition
I'm a full stack developer based in Nairobi. I design and ship web applications, SaaS platforms, and business software — wired for M-Pesa, built for local markets, and engineered to scale.
In this issue
Building software for Kenyan business
Five platforms, one developer
Web, SaaS & payments — a working method
By Chris Odhiambo
Nairobi, Kenya
I build web applications, SaaS platforms, and business software — the kind that handles real transactions, real users, and real local payment rails. Most of my work serves Kenyan businesses directly: schools running daily attendance and report cards, shops processing sales through M-Pesa, and founders who need a working product, not a prototype.
My stack runs on React, Next.js, and Node.js on the front and back end, with PostgreSQL doing the heavy lifting underneath. I deploy across Cloudflare, Railway, Render, and Vercel depending on what a project needs, and I integrate the payment systems — M-Pesa Daraja, Paystack, Pesapal — that make software actually usable here.
I work on several products at once, switching between client work and my own ventures, and I favour thorough architecture planning before a single line of UI gets written.
“Good software here means it works on a slow connection and settles in M-Pesa.”
— Working principle
Tools and technologies in regular rotation
End-to-end web application development with modern technologies and best practices.
Scalable Software-as-a-Service platforms with subscription management and multi-tenancy.
Wiring M-Pesa Daraja, Paystack, and Pesapal into checkout flows that actually convert.
Seamless third-party API integration and robust, well-documented RESTful APIs.
Comprehensive educational management solutions for schools and institutions.
Point of Sale solutions with inventory management, sales tracking, and analytics.
Automating business processes to increase efficiency and reduce manual work.
Advice on technology stack selection, architecture, and engineering best practices.
A modern Kenyan job board connecting employers with job seekers through an intuitive, responsive, fast platform.
A comprehensive school management system covering admissions, attendance, examinations, finance, and report cards.
A modern publishing platform where users share articles, opinions, and stories with a clean reading experience.
A florist business website showcasing products and services with a responsive, considered interface.
A cloud-based Point of Sale platform with inventory, customer management, sales tracking, and analytics.
Building end-to-end web applications using React, Next.js, Node.js, and PostgreSQL.
Creating scalable Software-as-a-Service platforms with multi-tenancy, subscriptions, and cloud deployment.
Designing and building robust RESTful APIs with proper authentication, validation, and documentation.
Implementing M-Pesa Daraja, PayHero, and Paystack for seamless local and global transactions.
Deploying and managing applications across Cloudflare, Railway, Vercel, Render, and Supabase.
Open to discussing new projects, freelance work, or opportunities to be part of your build. Reach out through whichever channel suits you.