Alex Livingstone Ongwen
Technical SME at M-PESA Africa- Claim this Profile
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English Professional working proficiency
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Luhyia (Kenya) Native or bilingual proficiency
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Swahili Full professional proficiency
Topline Score
Bio
Felix Yahuma
Alex is a very hard-working person who can tackle any IT problem with ease. We have worked together on service operations, and I found him a highly skilled and dedicated professional. His expertise in the field of Technical SME has helped the team. He’s also an all-around great guy to work with! I highly recommend him to anyone looking for help on their team or IT technical service operations.
Michael Ng'ang'a
Having known Alex from 2012 when he was transitioning from Customer Service to IT Network administration, and through the five years that I worked with him in KCB Bank, I would say that he is a strong team player who readily welcomes new challenges at the work place. During the time that I worked with him, he demonstrated a strong desire to advance his skills and progress his career specifically so in systems integrations, networks administration and applications support, an interest which saw him rising through management ranks to the top. Keep shining Alex!.
Felix Yahuma
Alex is a very hard-working person who can tackle any IT problem with ease. We have worked together on service operations, and I found him a highly skilled and dedicated professional. His expertise in the field of Technical SME has helped the team. He’s also an all-around great guy to work with! I highly recommend him to anyone looking for help on their team or IT technical service operations.
Michael Ng'ang'a
Having known Alex from 2012 when he was transitioning from Customer Service to IT Network administration, and through the five years that I worked with him in KCB Bank, I would say that he is a strong team player who readily welcomes new challenges at the work place. During the time that I worked with him, he demonstrated a strong desire to advance his skills and progress his career specifically so in systems integrations, networks administration and applications support, an interest which saw him rising through management ranks to the top. Keep shining Alex!.
Felix Yahuma
Alex is a very hard-working person who can tackle any IT problem with ease. We have worked together on service operations, and I found him a highly skilled and dedicated professional. His expertise in the field of Technical SME has helped the team. He’s also an all-around great guy to work with! I highly recommend him to anyone looking for help on their team or IT technical service operations.
Michael Ng'ang'a
Having known Alex from 2012 when he was transitioning from Customer Service to IT Network administration, and through the five years that I worked with him in KCB Bank, I would say that he is a strong team player who readily welcomes new challenges at the work place. During the time that I worked with him, he demonstrated a strong desire to advance his skills and progress his career specifically so in systems integrations, networks administration and applications support, an interest which saw him rising through management ranks to the top. Keep shining Alex!.
Felix Yahuma
Alex is a very hard-working person who can tackle any IT problem with ease. We have worked together on service operations, and I found him a highly skilled and dedicated professional. His expertise in the field of Technical SME has helped the team. He’s also an all-around great guy to work with! I highly recommend him to anyone looking for help on their team or IT technical service operations.
Michael Ng'ang'a
Having known Alex from 2012 when he was transitioning from Customer Service to IT Network administration, and through the five years that I worked with him in KCB Bank, I would say that he is a strong team player who readily welcomes new challenges at the work place. During the time that I worked with him, he demonstrated a strong desire to advance his skills and progress his career specifically so in systems integrations, networks administration and applications support, an interest which saw him rising through management ranks to the top. Keep shining Alex!.
Credentials
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Certified Linux Administrator (LPIC-1)
Linux Professional InstituteFeb, 2021- Oct, 2024 -
IBM LinuxONE Sales Foundations
IBMOct, 2020- Oct, 2024 -
IBM Tape Storage Solutions Foundations V1
IBMSep, 2020- Oct, 2024 -
CERTIFIED DEVOPS GENERALIST™
International DevOps Certification Academy™Aug, 2020- Oct, 2024 -
Jenkins - Fundamentals
CloudBees UniversityAug, 2020- Oct, 2024 -
Jenkins Pipeline - Fundamentals
CloudBees, IncAug, 2020- Oct, 2024 -
IT Information Library Foundations Certification (ITIL)
AXELOS Global Best PracticeOct, 2013- Oct, 2024 -
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Amazon Web Services (AWS)Nov, 2022- Oct, 2024 -
AWS Certified DevOps Engineer – Professional
Amazon Web Services (AWS)Apr, 2023- Oct, 2024 -
Certified in Cybersecurity (CC)
(ISC)²Mar, 2023- Oct, 2024
Experience
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M-PESA Africa
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Financial Services
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100 - 200 Employee
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Technical SME
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Mar 2022 - Present
Technical review of changes to any of the MPesa associated services, like MPesa itself, Smartphone, Anti Money Laundering (AML) and the underlying infrastructure. Ensure fulfilment of operational acceptance criteria for changes, minimization of risk and service downtime. Provide guidance to change initiators and vendors on technical aspects of the changes. Provide technical inputs to architects and delivery teams from an operational perspective. Support operational teams on technical topics. Technical guidance on Operational Acceptance Testing (OAT). • Smooth running of daily technical review calls for Normal Changes (ITIL) • Minimum service disruption due to technical issues with changes • Minimum operational risk due to changes • High quality of change documentation • Clear and factual feedback to change initiators on issues during review • Feedback to architects and delivery teams on change quality • Support to the L1 team with technical review of minor changes • Support to operational teams on technical topics • Technical guidance to Operational Acceptance Tests (OAT) team Show less
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The Youth Cafe
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Kenya
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Non-profit Organizations
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1 - 100 Employee
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Member, The Youth Cafes Board of Directors
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Dec 2022 - Present
Provide advisory to the Board and help shape and position The Youth Cafe for the day and future Provide advisory to the Board and help shape and position The Youth Cafe for the day and future
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Faulu Microfinance Bank
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Banking
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700 & Above Employee
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Technical Manager Digital and Alternate Channels
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Feb 2021 - Apr 2022
Provide strategic direction for implementing digital channels and online technology strategy of the bank and ensuring day-to-day management of digital channels. Responsible for developing and maintaining channels operations policies, procedures, guidelines and operating standards. Responsible for the department's planning, budgeting and operations while implementing initiatives to support the ICT strategy. To provide technical leadership for system administration within the scope of digital channels. Project leadership and decision-making on critical projects related to digital channels operations that pertain to project scope, value, schedule, budget, methodology, and resources. Ensure cyclical assignments such as Disaster Recovery testing, penetration testing and software and hardware audits are completed promptly. Show less
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Bring Global
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Portugal
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IT Services and IT Consulting
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100 - 200 Employee
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Integration Specialist (DevOps)
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Mar 2020 - Feb 2021
PROJECT: KCB - Kenya| I Middleware Evolution ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- • Working with RedHat Fuse. • Working with Apache Camel, Docker, Kubernetes, Java, Integrations, Microservices Architecture. • Administering Openshift (administration and networking) on azure cloud. • Developing CI/CD using modern DevOps tools and workflows (Azure devops, Jenkins, Openshift and tekton) • Agile development PROJECT: CBoJ - JORDAN | IBM IIB AND MQ DEPLOYMENT AUTOMATION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Developing shell scripts for IIB and MQ deployment that can do the following: - • Defining Global Variables via a Property file. • Loading such defined variables at runtime. • Stopping Integration Node, derived from Property file. • Backing up the Integration Node before deployment. • Starting Integration Node, derived from Property file. • Creating new Queues, derived from Property file. • Overriding the property files, location derived from Property file. • Deploying barflies to designated Integration Node and Integration server, derived from Property file. Execute script using CI/CD tools (Jenkins and Ansible) PROJECT: HFC - KENYA | APPLICATION MONITORING --------------------------------------------------------------------- • Installation and configuration of IBM Application Performance Monitoring for monitor IIB, MQ, Jboss, DB2, Oracle DB and infrastructure (windows and Linux). • Creating Monitoring reports for APM • Training users on how to use and add other services to the APM Show less
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National Bank Of Kenya (NBK)
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Kenya
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Banking
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100 - 200 Employee
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Manager Hardware and Data center infrastructure
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Oct 2019 - Apr 2020
Lead a Data Center Services team responsible for technical engineering, capacity and infrastructure project planning and oversight, including project management, metrics, reporting, technical services, site effort coordination, and large scale, long term planning both primary and Disaster recovery site.Project Management responsibilities include oversight and delegation of project scopes and objectives, project planning documentation, communication, task resource availability management, change and risk management, project performance tracking, ensuring all team managed projects are completed to high standards of quality, on time, within scope and budget.Provide a project tracking/reporting/metrics structure that incorporates NBK methodologies and standards, and that is effective with cross-functional partners and external vendors.Mentor, lead, and develop the project management, presentation, organizational, technical, and leadership capabilities of team members, such that they can develop global technical solutions, oversee small to large scale project efforts, and plan and coordinate daily operations and long-term project efforts with minimal supervision.Create and drive a culture of ownership, innovation, collaboration, accountability, and safety. Support and contribute thought leadership to the development and implementation of business, engineering, and project management practices which support the growth and ongoing management of NBK data center IT footprint. Show less
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Senior Administrator, Digital channels
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Jul 2018 - Sep 2019
My role is to lead and coordinate the bank’s Digital landscape and emerging initiatives. My responsibilities include working with the different business teams in analysing user requirements and providing solutions, developing business continuity plans for the banking solutions under Channels, monitor and offer second level support to the different channels to ensure uptime, and ensuring compliance of SLAs with system vendors.
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KCB Bank Group
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Kenya
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Banking
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700 & Above Employee
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Manager, Digital Channels support and Integration
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Oct 2015 - Jun 2018
My primary role is to lead and coordinate the bank’s Mobile, Internet, ATM and other emerging channels initiatives. My responsibilities include working with the different business teams in analysing user requirements and providing solutions, developing business continuity plans for the banking solutions under Channels, monitor and offer second level support to the different channels to ensure uptime, and ensuring compliance of SLAs with system vendors.Achievements• Worked on a short-term project that focused on improved service offering on the alternative channel space.• Part of the team that worked on the implementation of the MobiGrow project, in partnership with MasterCard.• Part of the team that worked on the implementation of the Mvisa project both on USSD and KCB App, in partnership with VISA.• Part of the team that successfully implemented T24 upgrade to R14, particularly focused on the IBM Enterprise Service Bus middleware implementation and Channel interfaces for the bridge.• Successfully stabilized and updated the KCB MPESA platform.• Led team in delivery of PESALINK integration and monitoring.• Successfully implemented a monitoring system for applications in Channel Support, including KCB MPESA.• Team member Core banking EMC flash storage implementation to improve the performance of T24 R14 system Show less
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Senior Network Integration Engineer
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Oct 2013 - Sep 2015
Provided leadership in various areas of my responsibilities and also gained skills by supporting various innovations in the business in network and communications team. My responsibilities entailed review of the current network environment, system analysis and design, Gather and collate network requirements by working with clients and colleagues, service management, and looking after project deliverables. Monitoring the bank network and working with partners to ensure stable connectivity for the branch and Agent network.AchievementsDuring my period at KCB Network, I was able to achieve the following:• Redesigned Network for KCB Rwanda from flat network to segmented network.• Deployed Network perimeter security (checkpoint and Cisco ASA) for KCB Tanzania and KCB Burundi.• Led Project network technical team for Private cloud implementation working with KCB hardware teams, HP, EMC and GG to deliver the solution. Liaised with support teams, working together to resolve customer issues.• Involved in 2014 Network infrastructure budget planning and KCB Tower migration scoping with approximate budget of 600 million. Show less
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Network Support Engineer
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Aug 2012 - Sep 2013
During my time as a Network Support Engineer in the KCB bank Network team, my responsibilities included Provision and Support of dependable, high quality and cost effective network infrastructure for data and voice services, improving network security for reduced threat of network attacks through configuration and administration of checkpoint and Cisco ASA firewalls, Reduction of network downtime for improved online business transactions for all the dependent channels and Configure and manage Virtual private networks (VPN) to facilitate internal resource access for staff.AchievementsDuring my period at KCB Network, I was able to achieve the following:• Proposed and implemented Solarwinds NCM taking backup of all network equipment’s and providing scheduled change management.• Upgraded VSAT Gilat hub in Kencom Data center to 6.5NMS software successfully, leading to improved hub performance hence improved service delivery at service points.• Merchant POS and Agency banking network infrastructure setup in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi Show less
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Customer Service Consultant
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Sep 2010 - Jul 2012
I worked as a Customer Service Consultant in KCB Kilindini branch. My responsibilities entailed Driving customer service in the retail banking sector, Support branch in collection of bank charges/fees, Proper coding and classification of accounts to stop revenue leakage, Support branch in control of costs within budget, Daily inspection of service area for branch cleanliness and stationary checks, Log Service issues on LAN SUPPORT & follow up for resolution, Organize service focus teams (SFT) meetings to improve service delivery, Collect Customer Feedback forms (compliments & complaints) and follow up on, issues to be addressed. Show less
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Graduate Clerk (Accounts and Administration)
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Nov 2008 - Aug 2010
Working in the Accounts and administration Department, my duties entailed Management of Cost /Containment of Expenses, Daily reports are checked and any entries that need reversal acted upon, Ensure that there is adequate stationery in the branch always, Ensure equipment are serviced as per service contracts in place, Adequate stationery maintained at the branch always, Tracing of system issues and ensure is up and running any mitigating issues are taken up with it within 5 minutes, Ensure to facilitate action plans and progress reports in audit follow ups and Train other staff on IT aspects, that is use of computers, photocopiers, printers and scanners effectively on personal basis and during morning briefs. Achievements• Developed branch performance dashboard to highlight the key indicators driving the branch business.• Managed to successfully lobby for the upgrade of all the computers in the branch hence improving the customer experience with better machine speeds. Show less
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FineSoft Consult
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United Kingdom
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Business Consulting and Services
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Web/Software Developer and It Support
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Feb 2008 - Oct 2008
I worked as a web developer at the company. My duties entailed developing web applications mostly in PHP, developing websites in Content Management [CMS] formats and customizing web templates from basic HTML sites to CMS templates, working around Joomla, WordPress and Drupal. Achievements • Gained experience working with PHP frameworks and Content Management Systems. Improved my ability to work in a team. • Developed web applications for different clients, ensuring that their requirements were met. Show less
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Gertrudes children hospital
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Kenya
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Hospitals and Health Care
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300 - 400 Employee
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IT Support (eHospital)
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Nov 2007 - Jan 2008
While on attachment at the Hospital, I provided system support for the IT helpdesk system, E-hospital management and user support, ICT training (in-house training of staff), Network maintenance and network point termination, Data entry and application support and Repair and maintenance of computers. While on attachment at the Hospital, I provided system support for the IT helpdesk system, E-hospital management and user support, ICT training (in-house training of staff), Network maintenance and network point termination, Data entry and application support and Repair and maintenance of computers.
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Education
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2022 - 2024
University of East London
Master of Science - MS, Information Security and Digital Forensic -
2010 - 2012
University of Nairobi
MA, Project planning and management -
2004 - 2007
RMIT University
Bsc., Applied Information Technology
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