Jectone Onyuka, IT lead at Cold Solutions, is using automation, AI and smart infrastructure to streamline operations and cut costs across East Africa. He is building IT systems that are lean, secure and business-driven without losing sight of the human side of change.
When Jectone Onyuka first dipped his toes into tech, he was still a university student helping to digitise land records at Kenya’s Ministry of Lands. “I’ve always been curious about how systems work and how they can work better,” he says. That curiosity has since grown into a career spanning government projects, regional IT leadership at Watu Credit, and now, a transformation-focused role as IT lead at Cold Solutions.
Jectone has built a reputation for making technology work for the business, and not the other way around. “It’s not just about rolling out new tools,” he adds. “It’s about shifting mindsets, solving real problems and making tech part of the strategy.”
One of his standout achievements came during his time at Watu Credit, where he led the automation of customer communication for payments – a move that slashed operational costs and improved efficiency across regions. “We were dealing with high volumes of manual work,” he recalls. “Once we automated that process, it freed up our teams to focus on higher-value tasks and helped the company scale without increasing overhead.”
Now at Cold Solutions, Jectone is applying the same impact-driven thinking to a new set of challenges. He is leading the charge to streamline internal operations, improve data visibility and reduce costs through automation. From launching a new call centre and cutting back on unnecessary printing, to tightening cybersecurity policies, introducing two-factor authentication and strengthening data backups and internet redundancy, Jectone’s focus is clear: build systems that are lean, secure, and scalable.
Rely on continuous improvement
To guide transformation in a resource-conscious environment, Jectone and his IT team rely on continuous feedback. Through quarterly staff surveys, they gather insights on what is working and what needs to change, while prioritising improvements that deliver the most value. “We align our IT goals directly with the company’s vision,” he says. “If it doesn’t move the business forward or make life easier for the teams, then it’s not worth doing.”
Jectone is also embracing the future of IT with a practical lens, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence. While some fear AI may replace traditional roles, he sees it as a powerful enabler. “AI won’t take my job; it will improve it,” he says confidently. At Cold Solutions, he is developing a chatbot to provide quick, safety-related information to staff, aimed at saving time and improving response consistency across teams.
But for Jectone, the effectiveness of AI begins and ends with security. “The real risk isn’t AI itself, but by deploying it on weak infrastructure,” he explains. That’s why his focus has been on strengthening the foundations: from better cybersecurity training to improved policies and enforced authentication protocols. “If the basics aren’t right, then even the smartest tools can become a liability.”
Operating with a lean IT team in Kenya, Jectone coordinates with a wider group that supports operations across Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda. Despite varying stages of maturity across these markets, he brings a consistent approach: solve problems locally, scale solutions regionally. “We think big, but we start where we are,” he says.
His leadership style blends systems thinking with pragmatism and a strong sense of user empathy. Whether it is driving automation or fielding feedback from team surveys, Jectone is clear about his goal: make IT a strategic partner, not just a support function. “Technology shouldn’t sit in the background,” he says. “It should be right at the table, shaping how the business grows.”
Outside of work, Jectone enjoys being in nature, reading, and playing volleyball with a group of friends.
He has applied to join the Computer Society of Kenya and is open to participating in professional communities like CITO East Africa. “I think it’s important to hear how other people are solving similar problems. You learn a lot just by sharing and listening,” he concludes.
