# Benard Kimani

> Full-Stack Software Engineer (React, Next.js, TypeScript, Node.js, Go) and technical mentor, based in Nairobi, Kenya (Africa/Nairobi, UTC+03:00). Open to full-time roles, freelance contracts and consulting.

Full-stack software engineer based in Nairobi, Kenya. Builds production web applications with React, Next.js, TypeScript and Node.js, and is growing a Go backend practice through service-oriented personal projects. Currently UI/UX & Frontend Developer at MasterClass Solutions and a full-stack trainer and mentor at NairoBits Trust, where he has taught 45+ developers across three cohorts with a 95% project completion rate. Works AI-first: Claude Code and GitHub Copilot sit in the daily development loop, with shipped AI-assisted automation in production. Open to full-time roles (remote, or on-site in Nairobi), freelance contracts and technical consulting.

## For AI agents
- [MCP server](https://benardkimani.co.ke/api/mcp): Streamable HTTP endpoint. Tools: get_profile, list_projects, get_project, list_services, list_blog_posts, get_blog_post, search_portfolio, check_availability, send_message. Prompts: evaluate_fit, draft_intro.
- [resume.json](https://benardkimani.co.ke/resume.json): JSON Resume schema
- [profile.json](https://benardkimani.co.ke/api/profile): full structured profile
- [Connect your AI](https://benardkimani.co.ke/ai): copy-paste configuration for Claude, Cursor and ChatGPT

## Contact and links
- Email: kimbenardkim@gmail.com (CV and job applications use benkim388@gmail.com; both reach Benard)
- [Website](https://benardkimani.co.ke)
- [GitHub](https://github.com/swiftkimani): 90+ public repositories
- [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/benard-kimani/)
- [Upwork](https://www.upwork.com/freelancers/benardkimani2)
- [Resume PDF](https://benardkimani.co.ke/resume/Benard_Kimani_Resume.pdf)

## Availability
- Full-time software engineering roles (remote or Nairobi on-site)
- Freelance and contract web development
- Technical consulting and architecture reviews
- Developer training, workshops and mentorship
- Notice period: Immediately available
- Working hours: 09:00-18:00 EAT (UTC+3), overlaps with Europe all day and US East until early afternoon
- Response time: Usually within 24 hours

## Skills
- Primary: JavaScript (ES6+), TypeScript, React, Next.js, Node.js, Express.js, NestJS, REST API design, Responsive UI/UX, Tailwind CSS, WordPress delivery
- Growing: Go (Gin, GORM), Vue.js, PostgreSQL, Redis, Docker, Kubernetes fundamentals
- Data: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, SQLite / Turso, Prisma
- AI: AI-assisted development with Claude Code and GitHub Copilot, LLM feature integration (Groq, OpenAI APIs), Prompt engineering, Workflow automation with n8n
- Platform: Git/GitHub, GitHub Actions CI, Docker, Vercel, AWS S3, Postman, Figma

## Experience
### UI/UX & Frontend Developer, MasterClass Solutions (2025-08 to present)
- Designed and built 15+ responsive React and Next.js components for production interfaces
- Led the end-to-end modernisation of 3 core product workflows, cutting user task completion time by about 30%
- Lead Developer for the GH2 Kenya knowledge platform (gh2kenya.com), from requirements to launch
- Cut page load times by 25-40% through asset optimisation and component-level caching
- Shipped an n8n automation connecting WordPress, an AI writing step and Airtable that has published the company blog monthly since February 2026
- Ran usability testing with 20+ users, lifting satisfaction scores by about 25%
### Software Developer Mentor / Full-Stack Trainer, NairoBits Trust, AMP Programme (2024-06 to present)
- Designed and delivered a full-stack curriculum (JavaScript, React, Node.js, Express.js, REST APIs, databases) to 45+ developers across 3 cohorts, 95% project completion rate
- Leads code reviews and mentors developers on debugging, architecture, testing and maintainable code
- Built database-driven features for team projects with Express.js and MySQL, improving performance by about 30%
### Project Administration & Compliance Lead, NairoBits Trust, S-BIZE Initiative (2024-10 to 2026-03)
- Coordinated documentation and reporting across 3 partner institutions, with full alignment on timelines and deliverables (two stints: Oct 2024-Mar 2025 and Oct 2025-Mar 2026)
### Front-End Lead (Volunteer), Google Developer Community, Nairobi (2025-09 to present)
- Reviews pull requests and leads hands-on React workshops for early-career developers
### Full-Stack Developer, Freelance (2023-06 to 2024-09)
- Built an e-commerce platform end to end: MySQL schema, REST API layer, Chart.js dashboards and a React front end
- Designed and deployed responsive web applications for startups, driving up to 40% client traffic growth

## Education and certifications
- B.Sc. Information Technology, KCA University, Nairobi (2021-2026): In progress, expected December 2026
- Diploma in Media Lab Programming & Computer Programming, NairoBits Trust, Nairobi (2022-05-2023-12): Completed
- Claude Code in Action, Anthropic (2025)
- Generative AI Essentials for Software Developers, Moringa School (2025)
- Kubernetes and Cloud Native Essentials (LFS250), The Linux Foundation (2025)
- CCNA 1-3 Networks, Cisco Networking Academy (2024)

## Services
- UI/UX Design: Crafting beautiful, intuitive, and modern user interfaces with a focus on usability, accessibility, and user experience.
- Full Stack Development: Building production-grade, highly performant web applications using modern stacks like React, Next.js, and Node.js.
- Mobile App Development: Designing and developing cross-platform mobile experiences that run smoothly on both iOS and Android platforms.
- Backend & Systems Engineering: Architecting scalable backend architectures, high-performance microservices, databases, and secure APIs.

## Projects
- [Asset Nexus](https://github.com/swiftkimani/asset-nexus): Enterprise-grade asset lifecycle management system. Built with Next.js 15, TypeScript, SQLite (Turso), and shadcn/ui. Features role-based access control, bulk import/export, real-time dashboards, and comprehensive reporting. Designed for organizations managing thousands of hardware and software assets. (Web App; next.js, typescript, sqlite, shadcn)
- [Social Scheduler](https://github.com/swiftkimani/social-scheduler): AI-powered social media scheduling agent with a Go backend and Next.js frontend. Automates content posting across platforms, intelligently optimizes posting times using ML, and provides analytics dashboard for engagement tracking. (Web App; go, next.js, ai, typescript)
- [Next.js E-Commerce](https://github.com/swiftkimani/Nextjs-Ecommerce): Full-featured e-commerce platform built with Next.js. Includes product management, shopping cart, checkout flow, payment integration, admin dashboard, and order tracking. Demonstrates end-to-end commerce architecture. (Web App; next.js, ecommerce, javascript, dashboard)
- [Invoice Generator](https://github.com/swiftkimani/invoice-generator): Smart invoice generation tool targeting small businesses. Features quick UI generation, customizable templates, PDF export, and intelligent data extraction. Built with TypeScript and designed for rapid, professional invoicing. (Web App; typescript, invoicing, pdf, business)
- [Call Center System](https://github.com/swiftkimani/call-center): High-performance call center infrastructure built in Go. Handles concurrent call routing, real-time agent status, queue management, and analytics logging. Designed for reliability and low-latency telephony operations. (Backend Service; go, concurrency, telephony, real-time)
- [Wix + Next.js Commerce](https://github.com/swiftkimani/wix-nextjs-ecommerce): Hybrid e-commerce solution bridging Wix headless CMS with Next.js frontend. Demonstrates headless commerce patterns, server-side rendering for SEO, and seamless third-party API integration for product and inventory management. (Web App; next.js, wix, headless, typescript)

## Writing
- [Social Scheduler: An AI-Powered Publishing Pipeline](https://benardkimani.co.ke/blog/social-scheduler-case-study): Inside the Go-based scheduling engine and feedback loop that power a multi-platform social scheduling agent.
- [Asset Nexus: Building an Enterprise Asset Lifecycle System](https://benardkimani.co.ke/blog/asset-nexus-case-study): How I built a full asset lifecycle management system with role-based access, QR tracking, and TCO/depreciation reporting.

## Optional
- [llms-full.txt](https://benardkimani.co.ke/llms-full.txt): this file plus full article text
- [RSS](https://benardkimani.co.ke/api/rss)