Declark Chacha is a software engineer whose Pamoja app available on the play store improves transparency, provides convenience and automates chamas’ payments. The app is also useful for welfare groups, donations and fundraisers.
We caught up with him and bring you this story:-
Hello Chacha, kindly introduce yourself and talk about your background
I am Declark Chacha, a software engineer, founder, and CEO of Pamoja Nova, a platform designed to digitalize traditional funding processes in Kenya. I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering at Kisii University though I dropped out in fourth year.
What problems does your app solve? Do you have any personal experiences that inspired you to create the app?
Pamojanova was designed to modernize traditional community finance systems by making them safer, more transparent, and easier to oversee. Its aim is to enable people to save, support each other, and raise funds confidently through technology.
Pamojanova assists individuals in managing Chamas, Welfare groups, and Mchango fundraisers with ease and security. It addresses the following problems:
Transparency – Many traditional chamas rely on manual record-keeping, which can lead to confusion and disputes. Pamojanova automatically maintains all records, allowing members to view contributions, balances, and transactions at any time.
Security – Handling cash or using unverified accounts increases the risk of fraud or losing money. Pamojanova safeguards users with secure systems and requires members to undergo identity verification (KYC).
Convenience – Members can contribute without attending physical meetings by sending and receiving money through M-Pesa or Airtel Money from any location in Kenya.
Simplified management – Churches, schools, NGOs, and other groups can utilise Pamojanova to manage welfare funds, donations, and community activities more effectively.
Automated payouts – The platform handles savings rotation and payouts automatically, minimising errors and ensuring members get their money promptly.
What are the unique features of the app?
I’ll say automation. The system does everything automatically. For example, once a chama is created the system tracks, notifies and sends payouts. For welfares, once created all members see the available balance and when withdrawing money it can only be sent to a welfare member and the transaction must be approved by the officials.
How secure is your platform?
The app is approved to use safaricom to receive money from customers to my business and also approved my business to send automatically to customers. The app also uses KYC (Know Your Customer). During registration you upload your ID front and back which will be approved in within a few hours or rejected with reason. We also use 2 factor authentication, one time pins, security questions and biometrics whereby fingerprints can be set.
Finally, under chamas, the creator is advised to only allow and approve members he knows only eg members from the same bodaboda stage or people from same locality.
How does your app guarantee data security?
Customer data is robustly encrypted. Suppose a customer’s phone number is 0712345678, when encrypted, it becomes something like 8F4A9X2M7KQ1P6R. Anyone who sees the database will only see the scrambled text and won’t understand it.
Did you do it alone or are you a team?
I did it alone starting in 2024. I stalled a bit but continued in 2025.
What was the process before the app got uploaded on Play Store? Was it straightforward?
They had to confirm whether my app follows their policy and the Kenyan government’s policies. I then sent documents to prove legitimacy. After that, they waited 7 days, then asked to test the app for 14 days with not fewer than 12 testers. After 14 days, I published it, and again waited for 7 days for the Play Store to reconfirm and approve it.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
I have received recommendations fom testers, chamas, welfare and michango groups.
What is the future of your platform?
To be the leading platform in Kenya that digitalizes community funding systems and increases accountability and accessibility.