There’s a popular saying that luck is when opportunity meets preparedness and 20-year-old tech guru Enoch Kambale embodies this perfectly.
Despite dropping out of school over ideological differences with his lecturers, Kambale defied the odds, turning his passion for technology into a successful career as a software developer.
Having scored 436 marks in his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and emerging as the top student in the Coastal region, he earned an opportunity to join Mang’u High School, one of Kenya’s most prestigious institutions.
After scoring an A of 83 points from Mang’u, he joined the University of Nairobi (UoN) where, however, his academic journey was short-lived after he was forced to drop out after his lecturer accused him of doing more than what was needed for a project.
20-year-old tech enthusiast and guru Enock Kambale posing for a photo at his office.
Enoch Kambale
”I joined UoN’s Computer Science Program but I dropped out after a lecturer told me I did too much on a class project, and another one told me that I have an attitude,” Kambale narrated.
After dropping out of school, Kambale went on to contribute to the development of what he described to Kenyans.co.ke as Africa’s leading AI-powered jobs app—at just 19 years old.
”I started the company when I was 16, while still in high school. I have been juggling this and school but I’ve always been dissatisfied with school, and especially after my second year, I just decided I didn’t want to continue,” he added.
”But there’s also the fact that the company is getting bigger and serious, with us now working with the UN-so that pushed me to just narrow down.”
Kambale contributed to the development and refining of an app known asTalent app which he added has helped over 20,000 young people to find jobs.
If you thought that was the peak of his achievements, think again. With the help of his colleague Matt Magera, Kambale developed software designed to assist recruiters in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa.
Additionally, the software is also helping recruiters in the mentioned countries to run background checks on candidates using government records.
”I also built software(known as Jobzy) to help recruiters in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa run background checks on candidates using government records in their countries,” Kambale shared.
Kambale revealed to Kenyans.co.ke that, alongside Magera, he is currently collaborating with the United Nations’ International Labour Organization (ILO) on a project that is still in its planning phase.
The project will focus on humanitarian support for refugees living in Kenya in the camps of Daadab and Kakuma.
”So, what we’re doing with the UN is a project that is still in the planning phase. The project will be done through the UN’s labour agency, ILO, International Labour Organisation, to support refugees working in Kenya,” Kambale stated.
He added, ”The project will be under ILO’s Pathways Program.”
Kambale’s story, much like those of Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates, exemplifies the notion that success in life is not solely defined by books or formal education.
Enoch Kambale and his friend Matt Magera posing for a photo.
Enoch Kambale