JOE NJERU
CEO, Zilojo
@joenjeru
Joe Murithi Njeru was born in Nairobi, Kenya and studied Computer Science at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Juja, Thika. He was involved in his first website project in 1996 while in high school, www.kenyaweb.com, which was Kenya’s first Internet Portal. In 1999, while working at Computer Masters, Joe led the team that produced the first online edition of the East African Standard newspaper.
Immediately after finishing his degree, Joe took the plunge into entrepreneurship and formed his first company, J.S. Engine, in 2004 with some of his colleagues. J.S. Engine has been involved in innovative and award winning web and software development projects. Some of the notable projects include:
- Izzy Talk – Kenya’s first browser based VOIP solution
- Rich Management – Kenya’s premier financial portal
- Nu Metro Kenya – Voted Kenya’s best entertainment website by ICTVillage magazine 2008
- E-Sure – Insurance ERP deployed in Kenya & Zambia
Joe is active in the Linux & Open Source scene through his membership and directorship of the Linux Professional Association of Kenya. He is a Certified LPI Linux Professional and a LPI Training Partner and consults extensively in the digital media scene through his digital media agency Zilojo. Joe is also a Technology Consultant for Y&R Africa through their digital agency Wunderman Kenya. He has been involved in successful campaigns for clients including the Kenya Tourism Board, CBA Bank, the Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund, Uungwana Initiative and others.
Joe is an avid sport fisherman with a love for African species; he is passionate about fly-fishing. Joe sits on the Marketing Committee of the Kenya Fly Fishers Club, which was established in 1920. He is also involved in indie gaming development, through Planet Rackus, where he is a founding director. They recently released their first game, Ma3Racer, on the Ovi Store.
