My name is J.J. Olila a graduate architect and today I have the privilege of having a one-on-one interview with Favitech Solutions CEO and YPF President Vitalis.
Who is Vitalis?
Thank you Jeff for this big question. To put it in perspective allow me to share my brief life journey that can best describe me.
Vitalis is a Husband, father and a tech enthusiast driven professional whose non-linear journey is defined by resilience and a passion for innovation. A second born with 4 siblings. In my early age I had a unique attraction to gadgets, like brick games, computer games, and remote-controlled toys. My curiosity was insatiable during that time, but it led to some distractions. As a result, my parents decided to send me to a boarding school in class 3 to focus better on my studies. This move turned out to be a positive one, significantly improving my academic performance hence getting a chance in High school.
High school wasn’t just about academics; it was also where I discovered my leadership potential through sports, particularly martial arts. By Form Two, I was honoured to be named team captain, leading our team to numerous regional and national championships and bringing home several trophies for the school. This experience taught me invaluable lessons in teamwork, strategy, and perseverance.
After high school in Musungu Boys, I faced an unexpected year of waiting while friends enrolled in universities. My initial application to JKUAT for IT was unsuccessful. My father then encouraged me towards an NGO path (Disaster Management) with lure of high pay, but my heart remained set on IT. Due to application delays at Masinde Muliro University and financial hurdles, my mother advised patience. During this one-year gap, I productively worked at a furniture workshop and then for Telkom Orange selling scratch cards in Kakamega and nearby towns. In an interesting turn, I participated in military selection at Mt. Elgon, Kapsokwony High School, viewing it as a potential path to employment. While I was not selected, the experience itself was noteworthy. This waiting period provided invaluable experience in work ethic and resilience, leading to my eventual admission to JKUAT in 2010.
My university life was a constant balancing act, demanding I juggle academic pressure, my faith, and a significant leader with bold in sports. Financial difficulties even exacerbated, even with the dread of exam and uncertainty on the door, every moment, yet I navigated these challenges with what I can only describe as divine intervention. The financial situation became so acute that my father, an ordinary citizen, had to place house on mortgage, seeking out invitations to familiar friends and the generous support we received, the answer comes in current preparing for the event (roughly 80% offset the current tuition fees. A significant proportion of the remaining year on the day I ultimately went unfilled. Famous offered me rent-free accommodation—a lifeline that proved invaluable until my graduation. The joy of graduation, however, was bittersweet. My family was still struggling financially, and a final KES 50,000 to ensure I could walk across that stage.
After graduation, I secured an opportunity at Techno Brain International, a leading software company. This role was stellar in honing my technical skills and provided the foundation for my next significant career move to KCB Bank, ATKCB—I joined the privileged opportunity to the digitalization of their agency banking program, a project. This experience was instrumental in shaping my career trajectory, connecting me to new opportunities and networks.
As VP of YPF Somalia, and ultimately solidifying my current path as a technology leader and CEO Favitech Solutions.
2. Growing up, what were the early sparks that ignited your passion for technology?
Can you share a story from your youth that sums up your tech world?
I truly appreciate this question because it brings back so many memories from my early years. Assembling toys, disassembling toys to understand how things worked inside and figure out how it all came together. This curiosity was the first spark that ignited my passion for technology.
Over the time, this interest grew so strong that IT became the only course I felt comfortable choosing. I always imagined just machines to make tasks easier and more efficient. But it wasn’t just about understanding how things worked; I also enjoyed playing computer games, becoming so skilled at them that I ended up becoming the coach of our group of friends. I remember feeling a sense of pride as a bunch of others through the games, and that leadership role fueled my love for technology even more.
One of the most significant moments during my childhood was when our neighbor in Eldoret Kabosoiya, a lecturer at Moi University, bought his first desktop computer. It was a rare Windows 98, I was so intrigued by the machine and how it functioned that I would spend hours at his place just watching him use it. His passion and guidance were a pivotal moment in my career.
Looking back, these moments were pivotal in shaping my journey into the tech world. They not only sparked my curiosity but also fueled my desire to build a future centered around technology.
3. Can you share the pivotal moments that have defined this journey?
Absolutely. From my early days as a tech enthusiast to becoming a leader in the IT sector, there have been several key moments that not only shaped my career but also deepened my sense of purpose and leadership.
One of the earliest defining moments came after I completed my KCPE exams. There was a prolonged waiting period before I could be admitted to high school. During this time, I had an inquiry in various experiences that shaped my passion for technology in major ways.
Silicon Valley ya Jamii (community-produced) were a service called UzzTeksalim. This service aimed to replace the traditional call boxes by allowing calls on the place using a service called UzzTeksalim. This can operate on Durres Durres wait to join high schools. I had the chance to operate a cyber wait service for my and business. I found this new technology fascinating and inspiring. The team also had a huge impact on me and this exposure deepened my appreciation for the tech industry.
Fast forward to my time working at KCB Bank. My first role was more focused on sales, where I recruited and trained KCB M-Pesa agents. I spent three months in this role, but my passion for IT led to a significant career move. Due to my demonstrated skills and systems to spearhead the implementation of a new banking system. It was ultimately changed my career path. The experience was ultimately rewarding, ultimately which ultimately positioned me as a software expert in the field.
After a year, I made a bold decision to leave KCB and join the software company full-time. This move was a big change in my career. The more I worked there the more inspired I became to start my own company. This was the turning point where I realized that my true calling was in creating innovative tech solutions. With new-found confidence and a deeper understanding of the tech industry, I registered Favitech in 2016.
These pivotal moments from opening M-Pesa shops to landing my first job at KCB and my controversial resignation taught me that my decisions are not just transactions but investments in the power of embracing new opportunities.
4. Given that decisions determine your destiny, take us through the decisions you’ve made in your life?
Life is all about making decisions—every single choice we make, big or small, shapes our path and influences the future. The decisions we take define our journey, and each one carries weight and consequences that guide us toward who we are meant to become.
One of the most pivotal decisions I made was in January 2018 when I chose to resign from my position as an IT manager. At the time, it felt like a leap of faith, and I won’t lie—there were moments of doubt, especially during the notice period. I even reached out to the HR department to request additional days, not because I had another job lined up, but because I felt uncertain. Unfortunately, my request was denied as the company had already started searching for my replacement.
But, despite the doubt, I decided to press forward. Armed with the skills I had acquired over the years, I embarked on a new journey as a technopreneur. That year, I incorporated my company and, just a month after my resignation, secured my first contract, earning over a million. Suddenly, everything began to fall into place, and I realized that my decision, while difficult at the time, was the catalyst for the success that was to come.
Looking back, I had just marked five years of work experience post-campus, but at the time of my resignation, if someone had asked me to show tangible achievements, I would have had little to boast about. I had an active bank loan and no significant material accomplishment was to my name. That moment of decision was my turning point, and it forced me to reanalyze my life, strategize, and take the steps that would ultimately change my future.
For the full read, including more on his YPF role and tech visions, grab the Vanguard – Raising the Bar 2025 Edition from Young Professionals Forum Kenya—a must for aspiring leaders!
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