Mwelu FoundationService Interrupted
mwelufoundation.org is currently offline
The website's backend services have been suspended following unresolved invoices for professional development services and infrastructure costs. This notice provides a full account of the situation.
Background
Between February and August 2026, a full-stack web platform was designed, developed, and deployed for Mwelu Foundation by Samwel Etemesi — contracted as an IT Support Intern. The internship contract defined the role as IT support only; the website was built outside that scope, using personal resources, personal time, and personal cloud accounts.
The organisation contributed KES 30,000 in deployment costs and USD $25 toward Render hosting for July 2026. No other payment has been made for the development work or ongoing infrastructure.
The website went live on 09th June 2026 at mwelufoundation.org. The internship contract expired on 2nd August 2026. The developer continued engaging with the organisation through 18th August 2026 during a contract negotiation period, at the organisation's request, for which no compensation has been received. Although Mr. Elmard Reagan (Program Manager) assured me that my dues from the 3rd to the 18th of August would be paid, I was shocked to subsequently be removed from the organisation's Outlook email access.
Chronology of Events
2 Feb 2026
Internship contract signed
IT Support Intern — KES 20,000/month for 6 months. Website development not listed in contract scope.
Feb – June 2026
Website built on personal resources
Full-stack platform developed using personal laptop, personal cloud accounts, personal email addresses, and personal time including home-working days.
09 Jun 2026
Website launched to production
mwelufoundation.org went live. Backend API deployed on developer's personal Render account.
2 Aug 2026
Internship contract expired
Six-month contract concluded. Developer continued engaging as directed by management during the retainer negotiation period.
14 Aug 2026
Retainer quotation submitted
Formal ICT retainer quotation submitted to management at KES 25,000/month (60 hours/month) as requested.
18 Aug 2026
Organisation ends engagement
Management communicated it would not proceed with any retainer or continued arrangement. ICT Systems Handover Form attached. James (Finance) to compute final dues.
19 Aug 2026
Invoice INV-2026-MWF-001 submitted
Professional services invoice for website development — KES 155,750 (after goodwill discount and deduction of organisation contributions). Due 4th September 2026.
25 Aug 2026
Invoice INV-2026-MWF-002 submitted
Render backend hosting invoice for August 2026 — KES 8,535. Due 31st August 2026. No response received.
Late Aug 2026
Render backend suspended
Render suspended the Mwelu_Foundation server due to unpaid infrastructure bills on developer's personal account. Website backend goes offline.
Sep 2026
Developer locked out of organisational email
Developer's access to the Mwelu Foundation Outlook organisational email account was revoked. No further communication possible via organisational channels. No response received on any outstanding invoice.
Outstanding Amounts(Website Included)
Website Development ServicesINV-2026-MWF-001 · 19 Aug 2026 · Due 4 Sep 2026
KES 155,750
Render Backend Hosting — August 2026INV-2026-MWF-002 · 25 Aug 2026 · Due 31 Aug 2026
KES 8,535
Outstanding Salary — 3rd to 18th August 2026Post-contract engagement period as directed by management
KES 15,238
TOTAL OUTSTANDING
KES 179,523
Outstanding Amounts without Website(MANDATORY)
Render Backend Hosting — August 2026INV-2026-MWF-002 · 25 Aug 2026 · Due 31 Aug 2026
KES 8,535
Outstanding Salary — 3rd to 18th August 2026Post-contract engagement period as directed by management
KES 15,238
TOTAL OUTSTANDING
KES 23,773
Payment Details
M-Pesa
0759 880 788
Name: Shikuku Samwel Etemesi
Bank Transfer
NCBA — 0759880788
Account Name: Samwel Etemesi
Email confirmation & invoice copies
samweletemesi2@gmail.com
+254 759 880 788
Upon receipt of payment or written acknowledgement of the invoices, the developer is ready to facilitate a full credentials handover and infrastructure transfer to an organisational account at no additional charge. All invoice copies are available upon request.
Notice regarding communication: The developer's access to the Mwelu Foundation organisational Outlook email account has been revoked. The developer can no longer be reached or contacted via any organisational email address. All communications should be directed to samweletemesi2@gmail.com or +254 759 880 788. The developer has not received any response to two formal invoices submitted in August 2026, nor any communication from the finance department regarding final dues.