Paul Kinyatti

Paul Mbugua Kinyatti is a Software Engineer specializing in AWS serverless architecture, CDK infrastructure-as-code, and building SaaS products that solve real problems. He designs multi-tenant platforms, cost-aware infrastructure, and WhatsApp-native applications, with deep expertise in TypeScript, AWS CDK, Firebase, and payment integrations for the Kenyan market.

Currently, Paul is building Awali (awali.co.ke) — a WhatsApp-native RSVP and M-Pesa payments platform for Kenya. Every day, millions of Kenyans coordinate events, collect RSVPs, and reconcile payments manually on WhatsApp. Awali eliminates all of that. The platform features 123 flow templates across 7 categories, intelligent M-Pesa payment routing (Paybill, Till, Pochi la Biashara), and Google Gemini-powered event descriptions. The architecture uses Nuxt 4, Firebase with hardened Firestore security rules, and the Daraja API for M-Pesa STK Push payments.

Paul also created Slate — a zero-config CLI tool that reads CDK synth output, calls the AWS Price List API for real prices, and produces tiered cost estimates across user growth scenarios before deployment. The tool supports 30+ AWS services, models Free Tier accurately, detects cost drift between runs, and includes a CI/CD budget gate. It addresses the problem that AI-assisted IaC development generates working infrastructure fast, but a single configuration decision can shift monthly costs by hundreds of dollars silently.

His other active projects include CertifyNow (certifynow.io), a cloud certification practice platform covering 39 certifications across AWS, Azure, GCP, and Oracle with domain-organized question banks and progress tracking; and InvoiceNow (invoicenow.ai), a multi-tenant SaaS invoice management system with full AWS CDK infrastructure, Cognito authentication, DynamoDB with tenant partitioning, and serverless backend.

Paul's technical expertise is backed by formal education and industry-recognized certifications. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Dedan Kimathi University of Technology in 2018 and holds AWS Cloud Practitioner certification. His technical stack includes TypeScript, Vue 3, React, AWS CDK, Firebase, Nuxt 4, Tailwind CSS, and serverless architecture patterns.

His approach to engineering emphasizes solving real problems with the right level of complexity. He favors managed services over custom middleware, infrastructure-as-code over manual provisioning, and multi-tenant architecture patterns that scale from free-tier solo users to enterprise teams. He leverages IAM, RBAC, and Firestore security rules for access control, and designs systems where cost visibility is built in from day one.

Paul speaks on AWS cloud architecture and CDK infrastructure, pre-deployment cost estimation for cloud infrastructure, building SaaS products for African markets, WhatsApp-native applications and M-Pesa integration, multi-tenant SaaS architecture, and microservices and event-driven architecture. His talks combine practical experience with actionable frameworks that engineering teams can implement immediately.

His portfolio demonstrates consistent ability to identify real market problems and ship solutions. Awali addresses the gap between how Kenyans actually communicate (WhatsApp) and how event platforms expect them to behave (download apps, fill forms). Slate addresses the gap between "it works" and "it's affordable" in cloud infrastructure. CertifyNow addresses the fragmentation of certification preparation across expensive platforms.

Paul's engineering philosophy centers on building systems that make the next decision easier, focusing on compounding impact rather than one-time wins. He prioritizes creating architectures that are not just technically sound but operationally sustainable, with clear cost profiles, automated deployment pipelines, and security built in from the ground up.

His work is characterized by attention to business impact alongside technical excellence. Whether designing intelligent payment routing for M-Pesa, building cost estimation pipelines that call real AWS pricing APIs, or architecting multi-tenant SaaS with proper tenant isolation, he focuses on outcomes that matter to users and business stakeholders.

Paul builds for impact. Every project starts with a real problem — whether it's Kenyans chasing RSVPs in WhatsApp groups, engineers discovering surprise AWS bills after deployment, or certification candidates scattered across expensive platforms. His systems are designed for the markets they serve, with deep understanding of local payment rails, communication patterns, and user behavior.