My journey into payroll wasn’t planned — it was passed down. Years ago, my father, Alex, introduced me to Kamau, a computer packages lecturer/trainer at an IT Training and Certification college of which he used to run. Kamau doubled up as a software developer working on a payroll system called InfoPay; built on VB6 and an MS Access database. He brought me in as a support developer. I was just out of high school (A-Levels), green, but eager to learn.

At the time, the sales lead was a guy named Kizito — well-spoken, UK-educated, and brilliant in the boardroom. I started accompanying them on demos across the country, quietly learning how to translate tech into value for businesses. I watched him break down complex payroll needs for HR teams, and I began to understand just how messy and painful payroll could be for companies — especially in Kenya.

Then everything changed.

Kamau moved on, and suddenly, I was the only one left handling technical support, software fixes, and product enhancements. Clients still needed payslips. Tax laws kept changing. The system had to evolve — and fast. I found myself deep in the engine room, maintaining a legacy system while supporting clients across industries.

By 2020, it was clear: we needed a new beginning.

That’s when I rebuilt the entire payroll system from the ground up — transforming it from a standalone Windows app into a modern web-based SaaS platform called WinguPay, running on ASP.NET. It was secure, scalable, and tailored for Kenyan compliance. We introduced Tiered subscriptions, user roles, automated tax calculations, and employee self-service tools. Most importantly, we made it accessible to any business, no matter their size or budget.

WinguPay now serves over 120+ companies and processes payroll for more than 5,000+ employees. We’ve added features like leave management, biometric time tracking, and we’re now integrating AI-driven automation to reduce errors, speed up processing, and cut down support costs for our clients.

But for me, this is more than code.

It’s about giving structure to businesses that have long relied on broken Excel sheets and outdated tools. It’s about dignity — making sure workers get paid accurately and on time. It’s about impact — helping African businesses grow confidently, knowing they’re compliant, efficient, and empowered by tech built for them.

This journey started with mentorship, legacy code, and countless demos in dusty boardrooms. It’s grown into a mission to transform how Africa does payroll — one payslip, one business at a time.

We’re looking for partners who see what we see: a continent full of potential, ready to rise — with the right tools. WinguPay is ready to scale across Africa, and this is just the beginning. Reach Out

Dennis Asiema - WinguApps Ltd Founder & C.E.O