The War For Software Developers In Kenya ~ George Njuguna, CIO, Safaricom PLC

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  • Опубліковано 1 сер 2022
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 154

  • @HezOmanjo
    @HezOmanjo Рік тому +18

    The worst thing a developer can dream about is working for a corporate.

  • @k.j.o.o
    @k.j.o.o Рік тому +69

    In 2024 I'll shake George's hand and tell him he inspired a young 20 year old me.

    • @Paul_Ochola
      @Paul_Ochola Рік тому +7

      tuko macho almost one year to go

    • @lauraomanga
      @lauraomanga Рік тому +2

      @@k.j.o.o I affirm your wish. May it be so. 🌹

    • @naturewrld615
      @naturewrld615 Рік тому +2

      You gonna win it bro.. don't forget Blockchain technology.

    • @kikie.esther
      @kikie.esther 7 місяців тому

      One month to go

    • @vitayaboy
      @vitayaboy 2 місяці тому

      Have shaken his hand just yet

  • @rufusnganga1118
    @rufusnganga1118 Рік тому +85

    Am a software Engineer and love what am hearing George on the payment & talent management, because we work a lot but in Kenya most Software Engineers don't get paid for the value of their work. That's why there are many freelancers.

    • @evansgitonga3046
      @evansgitonga3046 Рік тому +4

      I have realised that we are doing alot but pesa ni kidogo sana

    • @kamauwaweru4991
      @kamauwaweru4991 5 місяців тому

      @@evansgitonga3046 Solve this by developing SAAS products

  • @converge40
    @converge40 Рік тому +17

    Software Engineering in Kenya needs to be relooked. We have very good software engineers in Kenya and I feel they are not being recognized or appreciated well in Kenya.That''s why most software engineers are opting to work for companies outside Kenya or abroad because that's where they feel they are being appreciated.

  • @basil1921
    @basil1921 Рік тому +6

    Am an upcoming developer and based on what you have spelt out mr George am motivated...I will congratulate you for this by 2024

  • @wecanwork
    @wecanwork Рік тому +27

    The truth is local software developers are severely underpaid, as soon as a new player decides to hire local talent, even remotely, you will lose talent.

  • @shemkipruto4394
    @shemkipruto4394 Рік тому +13

    This is a good talk on the tech space in Kenya. The mzee is also hilarious 😂😂. He needs his rating upped.

  • @peslacai
    @peslacai Рік тому +6

    George is eloquent and knowledgeable on what he’s talking about. But unfortunately Safaricom kills innovations and wants to dominate the market, the talent they talk about is only for their own consumption and they’re afraid of competition.

  • @willgeo
    @willgeo Рік тому +9

    I wish we had talks like this in Uganda.

  • @jamesndiga1813
    @jamesndiga1813 Рік тому +20

    Very good conversation, but we also need to give credit to the multinationals in terms of the investments they have made in talent development before setting shop here. Companies have been beneficiaries of that talent as well and there is still on-going program to continue developing talent.

  • @martinfreeman6227
    @martinfreeman6227 Рік тому +23

    How i wish someone like George would be the kind of people heading govt ministries, just imagine how far and fast we would progress.....just imagine....

  • @davidalvinkariuki
    @davidalvinkariuki Рік тому +23

    I've interacted with some of Safaricom's software engineers & they are indeed brilliant. Bravo to the company!

    • @ceazarmianoh6500
      @ceazarmianoh6500 Рік тому +1

      Uongo

    • @mwanafalsafa3613
      @mwanafalsafa3613 Рік тому +4

      @@ceazarmianoh6500 wewe uza mboga kwa kibana na ulale hii story haikuhusu

    • @Rialani.
      @Rialani. 5 місяців тому

      ​@@mwanafalsafa3613unaelekea kwa kibanda! And you'll come back to this comment and cry!

  • @ellabella9104
    @ellabella9104 Рік тому +6

    Mr. George inspired me. I will ensure I do something big and I'll remind him of the day he was in studio. There's much to improve on in how Kenya handles Tech. The key area mentioned is: How the developers are treated in terms of pay and exposure to more skills. This is just a fraction of it. There's a backdrop to becoming a developer. In the learning stage, some upcoming talent also needs to be natured. UA-cam is a tool that can be used. A lot of content is posted and if well used can be very beneficial. There are young brains with passion but no particular direction on where to start and how to navigate.

  • @simonnjuguna9923
    @simonnjuguna9923 Рік тому +16

    Please Kenyans, protect your idea before sharing with any company. You can combine both utility model and copy right protection, then share your idea with any tech company. Software theft is real.

    • @MusicLyf4
      @MusicLyf4 Рік тому +1

      Ideas are useless and you cannot protect ideas

    • @hughjanus1942
      @hughjanus1942 Рік тому

      @@MusicLyf4 this is hilariously wrong

  • @simonstechschool7929
    @simonstechschool7929 Рік тому +16

    I am a self-taught software engineer and I would say that that is the best decision I ever made career-wise. I however dont work for Kenyan companies, they pay developers rubbish.

  • @renymark2657
    @renymark2657 Рік тому +15

    The University Education system in the country is Broken. For Software Devs, Major thing they do is Teach themselves These skills...

    • @blessingtshuma403
      @blessingtshuma403 4 місяці тому

      I speak for other (not all) African countries, we sing the same song bud

    • @mrrobot-mn6re
      @mrrobot-mn6re 2 місяці тому

      Its NOT, your university will never teach you everything, thats why tech is not for everyone, you have to study for yourself in IT

    • @wambuikingatua3820
      @wambuikingatua3820 2 місяці тому

      Their curriculum does not in any way match what is needed in the market today, Safaricom and other such organizations can help these universities and colleges with developing their curriculums to reflect the market trends. Otherwise mass production of graduates who are unemployable because they do not have the right skills is deplorable. One has spent thousands of shillings in fees and 4 years in UNI to come out and realize they learnt very little and have to go back and acquire skills required in the job market.

  • @petermunyasi1119
    @petermunyasi1119 Рік тому +21

    Good to know that Safaricom now has a reward scheme that is balanced for both techies and managers. We all don't need to scale our careers through management path

  • @OjowiLaura
    @OjowiLaura Рік тому +6

    Amazing insights. ALX chap here i hope that more youngsters get exposure to the tech industry

  • @salomegithinji4565
    @salomegithinji4565 Рік тому +11

    Big data,machine learning and artificial intelligence 😅😅 me in my cv

  • @lusarshameli7057
    @lusarshameli7057 Рік тому +110

    To get proper into software you have to be able to lean by yourself. A lecturer cannot make you a software engineer.

    • @peternyabuto577
      @peternyabuto577 Рік тому +4

      TRUE

    • @masymboya611
      @masymboya611 Рік тому +1

      which websites did you use to learn am learning frontend first but it is hard to find the right website

    • @masymboya611
      @masymboya611 Рік тому +1

      @@blakpearlthmvmnt4535 yeah but ni hard coz ikona izo quiz tu alafu its like uelewi chenye unafanya i think napreffer kitu ikona notes pia naelewa better hivo

    • @masymboya611
      @masymboya611 Рік тому +1

      @@blakpearlthmvmnt4535 asanti
      unaitanga kila mtu bro lakini? inasound weird or maybe its because i dont talk to people alot.

    • @DH-rf3nd
      @DH-rf3nd Рік тому +1

      @@masymboya611 UA-cam

  • @katoragashua
    @katoragashua Рік тому +28

    I really enjoyed this session. Mr. George really hit all points well. I'm a Frontend Engineer from Nigeria who intends to go full-stack and am currently learning Node JS and Python.

    • @davien001
      @davien001 Рік тому +1

      Same here, Nigerian self-taught for 6 months, learning react right now while doing frontend mentor projects, will make a proper portfolio at the end of the year hopefully.

    • @josephkoech1985
      @josephkoech1985 Рік тому

      Welcome to Python community.

    • @mwanafalsafa3613
      @mwanafalsafa3613 Рік тому

      Share your learning experiences and key study materials

    • @johnmaina4500
      @johnmaina4500 Рік тому

      @@davien001 Let's link and share ideas

  • @Harry-zm9fk
    @Harry-zm9fk Рік тому +12

    Impacting skills and increasing remunerations keeps Safaricom steps ahead. How I wish every organizations in Kenya could take this up and view it as building on human resource rather than costly and downtime in production.

  • @faustinechisasa9696
    @faustinechisasa9696 Рік тому +6

    Insightful of you George Njuguna. Clear vision, outreach, enablement and incentive minded.

  • @georgebaraza9141
    @georgebaraza9141 Рік тому +3

    Some good insights here from George. I'm an aspiring software developer in Kenya. Coming from an Actuarial Science background, digitalizing the Finance/Insurance industry triggered the passion to penetrate into the Tech space. For that reason, I took the Front-end Development route with this being my fourth month into it. Currently halfway learning React as a JavaScript library with the hope of securing an internship position to hone my craft in a real tech environment before the end of the year. Hopefully, Safaricom PLC would accommodate my skillset and invest in it.

  • @KingKing_777
    @KingKing_777 Рік тому +2

    Thanks for this insightful discussion Spice Fm team!

  • @kamauthiongo7710
    @kamauthiongo7710 Рік тому +1

    Amazing conversation, George. Great to see the Tech scene in Nairobi vibrant as ever.

  • @ericnyamu9981
    @ericnyamu9981 Рік тому +4

    Let them shine.they have been sat on for so long! Big corp fighting for your talent must feel really good. 💪💪💪

  • @nkimandi
    @nkimandi Рік тому +2

    One of the most illuminative conversations ever for me...up there with prof lukoye atwolis last one

  • @amediTechWizard
    @amediTechWizard Рік тому +5

    Very good talk this was. The part of outsourcing IT expertise into Kenya never really seated well with me, like we really have good developers and IT skilled people in the country and no need for outsourcing.

  • @nicholasngecu
    @nicholasngecu Рік тому +1

    Good insight, i love his way of thinking.

  • @tre8759
    @tre8759 Рік тому +7

    Safaricom taking the right steps to support local developers but there is still a lot of room for improvement

  • @winniekirimi6478
    @winniekirimi6478 Рік тому +28

    Am just not okay the way you limit the digital program to undergrads only. What about the people who are advanced in age and are looking for skilling or evolving or change career to software engineering. You just need exposure.

    • @kelvinrose6714
      @kelvinrose6714 Рік тому

      I agree with you on this.

    • @michi.m
      @michi.m Рік тому +8

      But u can sponsor yourself or use materials cheaply or freely available. Moringa, coursera, udemy, google, youtube etc are easily available.

  • @ezekielakintunde4816
    @ezekielakintunde4816 Рік тому +1

    You have really inspired me in this conversation george Njuguna, I have had to listen to this multiple times.

  • @rickymurithi
    @rickymurithi Рік тому

    Just had a career change and upgrade into tech, informative and inspiring.

  • @jacktonewambui8683
    @jacktonewambui8683 Рік тому +3

    Good to hear the first person I had a chat with on linkedin

  • @hlomphophenduka735
    @hlomphophenduka735 Рік тому +9

    This is a wonderful interview indeed, huge respect for George, Safaricom, and Spice FM crew. As a software engineer in Lesotho at a Telco I'm extremely motivated, Thanks

  • @ekimbangola
    @ekimbangola Рік тому +1

    Great interview. Keep on the good work

  • @monicawairimu108
    @monicawairimu108 Рік тому +1

    Insightful message

  • @duncansakwa1184
    @duncansakwa1184 Рік тому +1

    Am listening to this conversation, George is very Knowledgeable ..GOK should have a sit down with guy.

  • @engineeringsolutions5699
    @engineeringsolutions5699 Рік тому +2

    Such a witty guest.Amazing insights

  • @doublem8135
    @doublem8135 Рік тому +1

    very interesting conversation! eye opening and breathe of fresh air from the nauseating politics we are accustomed to! kudos George and Spice FM

  • @martinfreeman6227
    @martinfreeman6227 Рік тому +3

    Very informative session

  • @Alex_Murimi
    @Alex_Murimi Рік тому +4

    😊💯3 months later and still enjoying the tech

  • @lauraomanga
    @lauraomanga Рік тому +1

    Awesome conversation. 🌹

  • @danielmugambi901
    @danielmugambi901 Рік тому +1

    Great conversation.

  • @rhinahirina4038
    @rhinahirina4038 9 місяців тому

    Impressive. George is such a vibe.

  • @Moyopheus
    @Moyopheus Рік тому

    Great interview, will be looking the Safaricom initiatives closer.

  • @abuyaombasa3363
    @abuyaombasa3363 Рік тому +1

    Awesome insight

  • @panic_seller
    @panic_seller Рік тому +7

    I wanted to be a software engineer, but looking at the pay vs what I do, compared it with what other jobs do vs their pay and I QUIT, people getting paid good money just for talking, others just for memory, and Devs in Kenya who actually use their brain don't get paid enough

    • @Dj-Pixxy
      @Dj-Pixxy Рік тому

      am a high school graduate looking to pursue the same course,,,would you kindly advice me

    • @dungamingchannel345
      @dungamingchannel345 Рік тому +1

      kwani on average watu hulipwa pesa ngapi? Am a form 4 leaver and im thinking into getting into this stuff

    • @mrrobot-mn6re
      @mrrobot-mn6re 2 місяці тому +1

      IT inataka passion mzee, pesa is the reward we get for our Passion..weka pesa mbele and you will drop it

  • @ephraimmaina6809
    @ephraimmaina6809 Рік тому +8

    I think if my fellow developers leave for google, microsoft and AWS then they should leave with a mission to bench mark and uplift our local companies that how we will have a healthy competition of this international companies

    • @lang6626
      @lang6626 Рік тому +3

      Those 3 tech companies you’ve mentioned already fired thousands of their software engineers and most of the are foreign with work visas sema anxiety

  • @pilotjoe1291
    @pilotjoe1291 Рік тому +5

    A game changer points,vgotten from this discussion. I really feel we need to be doing something about the Software Development on our own - our own school and stuff.

  • @Nate_Vee
    @Nate_Vee Рік тому

    Fantastic conversation.

  • @big_brayo
    @big_brayo Рік тому +5

    Amazing how she doesn't smile......at all🤔🤔🤔😂

  • @stuartmaleka
    @stuartmaleka Рік тому +1

    insightful

  • @raymondtomno2968
    @raymondtomno2968 Рік тому +3

    Quite insightful wow

  • @theoneyoulove-bi4li
    @theoneyoulove-bi4li Рік тому +1

    i am taking a course in SE and i am happy to hear this

    • @JnMasher
      @JnMasher Рік тому +1

      Send yourself proper. (Jitume). Our campuses are full of crap and only you can save yourself.
      All the best bro!

  • @iammasambu
    @iammasambu 11 місяців тому

    amazing video

  • @edwinkaris9602
    @edwinkaris9602 Рік тому +4

    @5:21 on setting up dial up,on hearing this sound like a cat being strangled..hahah it actually sounds like that

  • @user-mg8yv6fo6x
    @user-mg8yv6fo6x 3 місяці тому

    These are the kind of leaders we should have in kenya

  • @Rons847
    @Rons847 Рік тому +3

    Top notch conversations that are future focused.

  • @prestozer
    @prestozer Рік тому

    George is very articulate

  • @victormwangi9332
    @victormwangi9332 Рік тому +9

    am a software engineering student at baraton university am happy of what am hearing ,any advice for me before I get into the job market

    • @ericndivo4054
      @ericndivo4054 Рік тому +6

      I`m a developer, establish a good connection with freelancers before you can think about getting a fulltime job.

    • @Lista001
      @Lista001 Рік тому

      Heeey soldier

    • @lameckk8657
      @lameckk8657 Рік тому

      @@ericndivo4054 How do I get to meet freelancers??

    • @briangitonga7049
      @briangitonga7049 Рік тому

      @@ericndivo4054 what skill set do i need to be a developer?

    • @ericndivo4054
      @ericndivo4054 Рік тому

      @@briangitonga7049 Depends on your ability but generally be creative

  • @IslasPilipinas
    @IslasPilipinas Рік тому

    interested topic

  • @blaxbrian6877
    @blaxbrian6877 Рік тому

    I am an emerging autodidactic JavaScript developer, poised to make my mark in the realm of programming.

  • @Jumanji_Dev
    @Jumanji_Dev Рік тому +4

    Thumbs Up👍, SpiceFm, as a Software Dev, I really loved ❤the discussion...

  • @OsungaOkello
    @OsungaOkello Рік тому

    The old man has spoken the truth. 😊

  • @kevinmutai5729
    @kevinmutai5729 Рік тому +7

    An interesting talk but hardware is still more relevant than software TODAY, especially in communications a la Safaricom. Apart from the simple reason that without hardware there is no software, there is intensive research into the physical layer (hardware) to enable next generation communication (5G, 6G). The unfortunate part is the global south lags behind this field owing to the requirement for expensive equipment and extensive technical capacity to make meaningful contributions which means that the global south will continue to be dependent on the north for communications hardware. It is no secret that most of the continent's service providers like Safaricom are dependent on hardware sourced from Huawei, Nokia or Ericsson in all areas of their infrastructure from the access network (antennas) to the core network (routing). So all this talk about software is akin to taking the credit for a fresh coat of paint on a car whose engine you bought from someone else.

    • @brianmutiso1003
      @brianmutiso1003 Рік тому +1

      Hardware can't work without software, from firmware, drivers to high level software programs, every hardware device needs software to run

    • @s.k634
      @s.k634 Рік тому

      You are right . China is strong in hardware while India is strong in hardware but which one do we hear is doing well ? focusing on software makes you build on top of the American software stack and which can be turned off at a will .
      Hardware has more impact on the economy and creates real jobs unlike software .Compare the economic footprint of a router manufacturing company and an app ..smh

  • @oneito947
    @oneito947 Рік тому +3

    Most people can't pay for the advance on skill training for on job experience. Even my small. Company has upskilled multiple graduate and they have gone to companies paying them more than our monthly turnover

    • @johnkamau3442
      @johnkamau3442 Рік тому

      Great,I'm a developer as well hard to get this opportunities in Kenya

  • @c.muguro
    @c.muguro Рік тому +1

    Would love to know how much his renumeration is...

  • @seniortechshow
    @seniortechshow Рік тому

    👍

  • @josephmgift
    @josephmgift Рік тому +2

    😅Woah, paying someone to make you an app. I'm glad you did it yourself. 😎😎

  • @thendong4821
    @thendong4821 Рік тому +1

    Do you train and hire form 4 leavers

  • @kelvinkamau9083
    @kelvinkamau9083 Рік тому +1

    Good conversation here... I would like to know George take on coding amidst the 'ChatGPT' era.

  • @thendong4821
    @thendong4821 Рік тому +1

    I want to join but I don't have money

  • @oneito947
    @oneito947 Рік тому +5

    Its getting harder and harder to actually hire developers locally for smaller companies because we dont have the kind of venture capital funds that us and uk companies have.

    • @johnkamau3442
      @johnkamau3442 Рік тому +2

      true and even getting a job for Software Developers,you will need alot of connections

    • @extusmutanda5389
      @extusmutanda5389 Рік тому

      U need skillset relevant enough to kick u off in the industry instead.

  • @bobFranck-wq5mz
    @bobFranck-wq5mz 4 місяці тому

    How do you get in touch with these safaricom community

  • @medrinebaraka6992
    @medrinebaraka6992 Рік тому

    Asking if George can mentor ?

  • @geoffreyngugi9941
    @geoffreyngugi9941 Рік тому +1

    CT dealt a proper upper cut early on

  • @RagwarNoble
    @RagwarNoble 11 місяців тому

    These guys who never went to school for Software Engineering build terrible software, they endanger the public ….!

  • @kevinfred
    @kevinfred Рік тому +2

    Software is dead.

  • @Dj-Pixxy
    @Dj-Pixxy Рік тому +3

    am a high school graduate looking to pursue the same course,,,would you kindly advice me so as to make a wise decision pliz,,,which would be the best computer related course to pursue

    • @iam_Mayuba
      @iam_Mayuba Рік тому +5

      If you believe you have the wits, join an online forum for SE, like ALX which is absolutely free and start going

    • @iAmSavvi
      @iAmSavvi Рік тому

      @@afarajob3070 computer science

  • @SILASMUIGAI
    @SILASMUIGAI Рік тому +3

    Also another place to get the best developers in Kenya try "The JITU Ltd"