Joel is available for hire

Joel Muriuki

Verified Expert in Engineering

WordPress Developer

Location

Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya

Toptal Member Since

February 11, 2021

As a web developer with 10+ years of experience, Joel started his journey by developing professional WordPress themes. He mastered the skill of developing more complex platforms for both web and mobile. He has led engineers as a consultant in the complete product development lifecycle of successfully launched applications for clients, including PWC. Joel has worked with regional clients like NCBA, Ola Energy, and Resolution Insurance in developing custom web-based solutions.

Web Hosting User Interface (UI)Web Development Zoho WordPress Plugins WordPress Design PSD to WordPress HTML to WordPress WordPress Optimization Avada Website Optimization Data Migration WordPress Themes MemberPress WordPress

Portfolio

Angama

WordPress, TypeScript 3, React, MySQL, PHP, Twig, Divi...

Redmond Construction

Angular, Node.js, WordPress, REST APIs, Headless Software, Cloud Firestore...

Evolutionary Astrology Center

JavaScript, AngularJS, PHP, WordPress, CSS, Mailchimp, Moodle, MemberPress...

Experience

WordPress - 12 years JavaScript - 8 years PHP - 6 years jQuery - 6 years WordPress Plugins - 6 years MySQL - 6 years AngularJS - 5 years Ionic - 5 years

Availability

Part-time

Preferred Environment

Firebase, Cloud Firestore, AngularJS, Angular, Ionic, PHP, WordPress, jQuery, MySQL, JavaScript

The most amazing...

...thing I've developed is a business accounting app called Mhasibu (the Swahili name for accountant).

Work Experience

Senior WordPress Developer

2022 - PRESENT

Angama

Spearheaded the full-stack development of Angama.com, an upscale safari lodge website, to optimize user experience and increase booking efficiency. It entails a visually rich interface to showcase the lodge's unique offerings effectively.
Delivered Angama.com's web solution, boosting content management and user experience. Achieved a 20% boost in direct bookings, 35% more organic traffic from SEO, and 50% longer engagement with new multimedia features.
Worked on Twig and Laravel integration, provided a robust foundation for both front end and back end, enhancing maintainability. Composer was key for efficient PHP dependency management, crucial for a streamlined development process.
Utilized Webpack for effective asset management and developed interactive features using custom JavaScript, enhancing the site's dynamism. Modern CSS practices ensured a responsive and visually appealing design across devices.
Worked on SEO strategies central to the project, significantly boosting search engine visibility and organic reach. Codeception and TestCafe ensured cross-browser and device testing, maintaining high functionality and reliability standards.
Managed the version control with Git, ensuring code integrity and facilitating collaboration. CI/CD pipelines automated builds and deployments for consistency. Contributed to custom error monitoring, integration with Mailchimp, Google reCAPTCHA, and the reservation system.

Technologies: WordPress, TypeScript 3, React, MySQL, PHP, Twig, Divi, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Figma, WordPress Multisite, Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, Zoho, Amazon API, Backlinks, Web Hosting, REST APIs, APIs

Full-stack WordPress Developer

2022 - 2022

Redmond Construction

Created a custom-built REST API that ran on Node.js and built an interface to link WordPress, Angular-based site, and Firestore Database.
Used WordPress for managing content while the front end is based on Angular as the custom front-end stack to display the content. The database is Firestore while interacting with MySQL, and Redmond Construction is a headless WordPress site.
Built custom REST API using node.js to support Firestore database queries and link them with WordPress dashboard. Built custom WordPress functionalities using custom hooks for extending WordPress capabilities to interact with Cloud Firestore.

Technologies: Angular, Node.js, WordPress, REST APIs, Headless Software, Cloud Firestore, Firebase Cloud Functions, Google Tag Manager, Web Hosting

Full-stack WordPress Developer

2021 - 2022

Evolutionary Astrology Center

Developed a student management plugin to enroll new students in courses, assign course units, manage communication with students via Mailchimp API, and link those functionalities with Moodle.
Tracked and fixed bugs arising from the older plugins.
Oversaw the user testing of the education platform.

Technologies: JavaScript, AngularJS, PHP, WordPress, CSS, Mailchimp, Moodle, MemberPress, Google Tag Manager, Web Hosting

WordPress Developer

2021 - 2021

Get Bar Cart

Developed a plugin that connects to Stripe and ShipStation to track payments while authorizing shipments as well we issue refunds for canceled shipments.
Updated the functionality of the older plugins to work with Stripe and ShipStation flawlessly.
Built an independent Node.js application to manage more complex tasks that could not be handled with WordPress.

Technologies: PHP, Node.js, WooCommerce, Stripe API, WordPress, ShipStation, Stripe, Google Tag Manager, Amazon API, Backlinks, Web Hosting

Senior Software Engineer Consulting

2018 - 2020

PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Kenya

Developed a platform that provides real-time dashboards to monitor donor funds hence creating transparency between all stakeholders. This was a team project where I was the lead developer responsible for the front-end and API integration.
Developed and demonstrated project management solutions for tracking projects run by county governments in Kenya. This helped bring accountability to government projects.
Oversaw the improvement of operations in existing platforms by conducting systems analysis and recommending changes in procedures.

Technologies: Angular, Cloud Firestore, Firebase, AngularJS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Zoho, Amazon API, Web Hosting

Senior Web Developer

2016 - 2019

Brand2D

Developed a WordPress framework for helping the agency build client website projects in a fast yet scalable manner. This ended the reliance on third-party WordPress themes.
Developed microsites and landing-pages for product and event launches on WordPress.
Executed website design mockups by translating them to functional WordPress websites.

Technologies: WordPress, PHP, MySQL, JavaScript, AngularJS, jQuery, Less, SCSS, HTML, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Figma, Google Tag Manager, Zoho, Web Hosting

WordPress Developer

2012 - 2016

Evotion Interactive Studio

Developed customized yet unique websites for clients based on mockups they approved.
Introduced use of SVG based animations to wow and impress the visitors.
Oversaw success products and campaign launches via the simple yet engaging campaign and product landing pages.

Technologies: AngularJS, WordPress, PHP, JavaScript, MySQL, jQuery, Web Hosting

Computer Teacher Volunteer for ACCRI

2013 - 2014

Accri

Trained students on design skills and front-end coding.
Built custom-designed interfaces from scratch to bring design mockups to life.
Trained students on using versioning control tools in managing projects. GitHub and bitbucket.

Technologies: JavaScript, HTML, CSS

Experience

Mhasibu Accounting Android App

http://www.mhasibuapp.co.ke

Mhasibu app is built on Angular Ionic Framework. It is powered by Google's Firebase and Firestore Databases. Joel built both the front-end and back-end of the app.

Mhasibu app is a mobile-based accounting solution for small and medium-sized businesses in Africa

Amazing Data Microfinance Lending Platform

https://mhasibuapp.co.ke/amazingdata/

A minimalistic platform built on Angular and Firebase. Amazing Data Finance Limited is a local Micro-Finance Institution helping small business owners to grow.

The platform helps keep track of loans disbursed as well as payments made for those loans. It also generates MPESA (Mobile Money Wallet used in Kenya) statements and calculates the loan balance.

The project URL represents a demo of the actual platform.

Resolution Insurance Website

A professional WordPress website for a regional insurance company. Resolution Insurance was incorporated in 2002, making it the first company registered as a medical insurance provider. Using custom website mockups, the website was developed to fit the client's desired aesthetics.

BORESHA Website

https://boreshahoa.org/

A simple yet minimalist WordPress website for a non-governmental organization. BORESHA is part of the EU’s program for Collaboration in the Cross-Border areas of the Horn of Africa, investing in preventing and mitigating the impact of local conflict and promoting economic development and greater resilience in four different cross-border regions.

Salaam Investment Bank Website

https://salaaminvestments.com/

This is a professional bank website. Salaam Investment Bank Kenya Limited (SIBK) is a foreign company incorporated in Kenya and licensed by the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) to operate as an investment bank under the Capital Markets Act and Regulations. The investment bank provides Sharia-compliant products and services to its customers and the general public

Black Rhino VR Website

https://www.blackrhinovr.com/

This is an engaging and eye-catching company website to get the visitors wowed and communicate the message effectively!

Black Rhino VR is an award-winning Kenyan based Extended Reality (XR) Agency located in Nairobi.

Skills

Languages

JavaScript, HTML5, PHP, SCSS, Less, HTML, CSS, CSS3, PHP 7, XML, TypeScript 3

Frameworks

AngularJS, Angular, Ionic, Angular Material, Bootstrap, Next.js, Divi, Twig

Libraries/APIs

jQuery, Chart.js, WordPress API, WordPress REST API, WooCommerce API, jQuery CDN, REST APIs, Shopify API, D3.js, React, Stripe, Amazon API, jQuery SVG, NgRx, RxJS, Node.js, Stripe API

Tools

Git, WPML, AngularFire, Adobe Photoshop, Gulp, Figma, ShipStation, Mailchimp, Moodle

Paradigms

Unit Testing, Mobile Development, Responsive Web Design (RWD), RESTful Development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), BEM

Platforms

WordPress, Firebase, WordPress Theme Design, WooCommerce, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Shopify

Storage

MySQL, Cache, JSON, Cloud Firestore, MongoDB

Industry Expertise

Web Design

Other

WordPress Plugins, API Integration, WordPress Design, PSD to WordPress, HTML to WordPress, WordPress Optimization, Avada, Content Delivery Networks (CDN), Optimization, Image Compression, WP Super Cache, GTmetrix, Video Compression, Website Optimization, W3 Total Cache, Data Migration, Web Development, WordPress Themes, Web Accessibility, Mobile App Development, APIs, User Interface (UI), Google Search Console, Page Speed Optimization, MemberPress, WordPress Multisite, Google Tag Manager, Zoho, Web Hosting, Back-end Development, Google Analytics 4, Backlinks, SVG, SVG Animation, eCommerce APIs, Yoast SEO, Headless Software, Firebase Cloud Functions

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