Can I call myself a software engineer without a degree?

In Kenya and most of Africa, yes. "Software engineer" is not a legally protected title in the same way "doctor" or "lawyer" is. What matters is whether you can do the work. Many successful software engineers in the African tech ecosystem are self-taught or bootcamp-trained. That said, some larger corporations and government roles may require a degree for hiring purposes.

Is web development dying because of AI?

Basic web development (simple marketing sites, WordPress themes) is being automated by AI tools. Full-stack web development (complex applications with authentication, payment systems, databases, and APIs) is not dying. It is changing. Developers who build full-stack applications and use AI as a tool are more productive than ever. The distinction matters: if your plan is to only build simple websites, the market is shrinking. If you build applications, the market is growing.

Should I get IT certifications or learn to code?

They lead to different careers. IT certifications (CompTIA, CCNA, AWS) prepare you for infrastructure and support roles. Learning to code prepares you for software engineering and development roles. Neither is better in absolute terms. IT offers more stability and structured progression. Software engineering offers higher pay ceilings and more remote work options. Choose based on which type of work appeals to you, not which sounds more prestigious.

Do Kenyan employers care about the title difference?

Startups generally do not. They care about what you can build. Large corporations (Safaricom, banks, telcos) and international companies do care, because titles map to pay bands and job levels. If you are targeting startup roles, focus on skills over titles. If you are targeting corporate or international remote roles, understanding how titles map to expectations matters for negotiation.

By Bonaventure Ogeto|Updated June 2, 2026

Software Engineer vs Web Developer vs IT: What's the Difference?

A software engineer designs and builds software systems: mobile apps, backend services, APIs, infrastructure. A web developer specifically builds websites and web applications (which is a subset of software engineering). An IT specialist manages existing technology: networks, hardware, user accounts, help desk, cybersecurity. The overlap is real, but the day-to-day work, salary trajectory, and skills required are different. In the Kenyan market, "software engineer" and "web developer" titles are often used interchangeably at startups, but at larger companies the distinction matters for pay and career growth. IT roles are a separate career track entirely, focused on maintaining systems rather than building new ones.

Why These Titles Are So Confusing

Part of the confusion is the industry's fault. Tech companies use titles inconsistently. A "Software Engineer" at Google is a very specific role with system design expectations. A "Software Engineer" at a 5-person Nairobi startup might be the only developer, doing everything from frontend to deployment. A "Web Developer" on Upwork might build WordPress sites. A "Web Developer" at a fintech company might be building a React-based banking dashboard with real-time M-Pesa transaction data.

The other part of the confusion is cultural. In Kenya and much of East Africa, family members and friends call anyone who works with computers "IT." Your uncle who fixes printers, your cousin who builds mobile apps, and your friend who manages a company's cloud servers are all "in IT" as far as most people are concerned.

The distinctions do matter, though, because they affect what you study, what jobs you qualify for, and what you earn. Let us break down each role clearly.

Software Engineer: The Builder of Systems

A software engineer designs, builds, and maintains software systems. That includes web applications, mobile apps, backend APIs, cloud infrastructure, data pipelines, and increasingly, AI-powered features. The "engineer" part implies a systematic approach: thinking about architecture, scalability, testing, security, and maintainability, not just making something work.

What the day looks like: Writing code, reviewing other people's code, designing how systems should be structured, debugging issues in production, discussing requirements with product managers, and deploying changes. In 2026, a significant chunk of the day involves directing AI coding tools and reviewing their output.

Languages and tools: JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, Java. Frameworks like React, Node.js, Django, or Spring. Cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure. Git for version control. AI coding assistants as daily tools.

Pay range (Kenya): Junior: KES 50,000 to KES 100,000/month. Mid-level: KES 100,000 to KES 300,000/month. Senior: KES 250,000 to KES 600,000/month. International remote roles for senior engineers can exceed KES 800,000/month.

Education: A CS degree helps at large companies, but the African market (and the global remote market) increasingly cares about what you can demonstrate. Portfolio projects, GitHub contributions, and practical skills matter more than credentials at startups.

Web Developer: Building for the Browser

A web developer builds websites and web applications. This is technically a subset of software engineering, focused specifically on the web platform. In practice, the title "web developer" is used in two very different ways:

Traditional web developer: Builds websites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and possibly a CMS like WordPress. Focuses on layout, design implementation, responsiveness, and basic interactivity. This version of the role has lower pay and is more affected by AI tools and no-code platforms.

Modern web developer (full-stack): Builds complex web applications using React, Angular, or Vue on the front end, Node.js, Python, or similar on the back end, with databases, APIs, authentication, and payment integration. This version is functionally identical to a software engineer who works on web products.

What the day looks like: Similar to a software engineer's day if you are building web applications. Different if you are building marketing websites: more focus on design implementation, CMS configuration, SEO, and responsive layouts.

Pay range (Kenya): WordPress/static site developers: KES 30,000 to KES 80,000/month. Full-stack web developers: KES 80,000 to KES 300,000/month. The gap is significant because the skills and complexity are fundamentally different.

The market reality: In Africa's startup ecosystem, "web developer" and "software engineer" overlap heavily. Most startups need someone who can build the entire product, and most products are web-based. If you can build a full-stack web application with user authentication, payment integration (M-Pesa, Paystack), and deployment, no one cares whether your title says "web developer" or "software engineer."

IT Specialist: Managing and Maintaining Technology

IT (Information Technology) specialists manage an organisation's technology infrastructure. They set up computers, manage networks, handle user accounts, maintain servers, provide help desk support, manage cybersecurity, and make sure existing systems keep running.

The critical difference: IT maintains and manages technology. Software engineering creates new technology. An IT specialist keeps the company's email server running. A software engineer builds the email application. These are fundamentally different jobs, even though both involve "working with computers."

What the day looks like: Setting up new employee laptops, troubleshooting network issues, managing Active Directory or Google Workspace accounts, monitoring server health, applying security patches, responding to help desk tickets, and managing backups. At larger organisations, specialised roles emerge: network engineer, system administrator, cybersecurity analyst, cloud administrator.

Pay range (Kenya): IT support/help desk: KES 30,000 to KES 80,000/month. System administrator: KES 60,000 to KES 180,000/month. Network engineer: KES 80,000 to KES 250,000/month. Cybersecurity specialist: KES 100,000 to KES 350,000/month.

Education: IT certifications (CompTIA A+, CCNA, AWS Cloud Practitioner) carry real weight in this field. A degree in IT or computer science is common but not strictly required for entry-level roles. The certification path is more structured and predictable than the software engineering path.

The honest trade-off: IT roles offer stability and clear career progression. Banks, hospitals, government agencies, and large corporations always need IT staff. The pay ceiling is generally lower than software engineering (except in cybersecurity, which pays very well), but the demand is steady and less subject to startup boom-and-bust cycles.

Side-by-Side: How the Three Compare

Here is a direct comparison across the dimensions that actually matter when you are choosing a path:

What you create:

Software Engineer: New software products (apps, APIs, systems)
Web Developer: Websites and web applications
IT Specialist: Manages and maintains existing technology infrastructure

Primary skills:

Software Engineer: Programming, system design, algorithms, debugging, AI tool usage
Web Developer: HTML/CSS/JavaScript, frameworks (React, Vue), responsive design, and for full-stack: backend + databases
IT Specialist: Networking, system administration, troubleshooting, security, certifications

Entry barrier:

Software Engineer: Moderate to high. 6 to 12 months of focused learning to be job-ready.
Web Developer: Low to moderate. Basic websites in weeks; full-stack takes 6+ months.
IT Specialist: Low to moderate. Entry-level help desk with a CompTIA A+ certification in 2 to 3 months.

Affected by AI:

Software Engineer: AI changes the work (more directing, less typing) but increases demand for capable engineers.
Web Developer: Basic web development is heavily affected. Full-stack development is affected similarly to software engineering.
IT Specialist: Less affected by AI coding tools. More affected by cloud automation in infrastructure management.

Remote work potential:

Software Engineer: Very high. Most software engineering roles can be done remotely.
Web Developer: High. Especially freelance and contract work.
IT Specialist: Lower. Many IT roles require physical presence to manage hardware and on-site infrastructure. Cloud and cybersecurity roles are more remote-friendly.

Where McTaba Fits In This Map

McTaba's Full-Stack Software and AI Engineering course trains you as a software engineer who builds web applications. In practical terms, that means you graduate with skills that qualify you for roles titled "software engineer," "full-stack developer," "web developer," or "full-stack engineer" at African startups and international remote companies.

We do not train IT specialists. That is a different career track with different skills (networking, system administration, certifications). It is a valid and stable career, but it is not what we teach.

We also do not train WordPress developers or static-site builders. The market for that is shrinking as AI tools like Bolt and Lovable make simple website creation accessible to non-developers. We focus on the part of the market where human developers are becoming more valuable, not less: building complex applications, integrating African payment systems, and working with AI.

Choosing Your Path

If you read the software engineer and full-stack web developer descriptions and thought "that is what I want to do," the next step is understanding the building blocks. Read front-end vs back-end vs full-stack to understand which type of development appeals to you.

If you are curious but not ready to commit, create a free McTaba Academy account and explore. Our Tech Foundations course (KES 2,999) is designed to give you a clear understanding of how software works before you write your first line of code.

If the IT path sounds more like your fit, that is a solid choice. Look into CompTIA certifications as a starting point, and consider whether cybersecurity (the highest-paying IT specialisation) appeals to you.

If you want to see what a developer's day actually looks like before deciding, read what developers actually do all day.

Key Takeaways

✓Software engineering is the broadest category: building software systems of any kind. Web development is a specialisation within it. IT is a separate track focused on managing and maintaining technology.
✓In Kenya, startups often merge "software engineer" and "web developer" into one role. Larger companies and international remote jobs make the distinction more clearly, and it affects pay.
✓Software engineers typically earn more than web developers in title-conscious companies because the scope of work is broader. IT roles start with lower ceilings but offer strong stability.
✓McTaba trains full-stack software engineers who can build web applications, integrate APIs like M-Pesa Daraja, and work with AI. That covers the "software engineer" and "web developer" overlap that the market actually demands.
✓The title matters less than what you can build. An employer will call you whatever they want if you can ship a working product.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call myself a software engineer without a degree?: In Kenya and most of Africa, yes. "Software engineer" is not a legally protected title in the same way "doctor" or "lawyer" is. What matters is whether you can do the work. Many successful software engineers in the African tech ecosystem are self-taught or bootcamp-trained. That said, some larger corporations and government roles may require a degree for hiring purposes.
Is web development dying because of AI?: Basic web development (simple marketing sites, WordPress themes) is being automated by AI tools. Full-stack web development (complex applications with authentication, payment systems, databases, and APIs) is not dying. It is changing. Developers who build full-stack applications and use AI as a tool are more productive than ever. The distinction matters: if your plan is to only build simple websites, the market is shrinking. If you build applications, the market is growing.
Should I get IT certifications or learn to code?: They lead to different careers. IT certifications (CompTIA, CCNA, AWS) prepare you for infrastructure and support roles. Learning to code prepares you for software engineering and development roles. Neither is better in absolute terms. IT offers more stability and structured progression. Software engineering offers higher pay ceilings and more remote work options. Choose based on which type of work appeals to you, not which sounds more prestigious.
Do Kenyan employers care about the title difference?: Startups generally do not. They care about what you can build. Large corporations (Safaricom, banks, telcos) and international companies do care, because titles map to pay bands and job levels. If you are targeting startup roles, focus on skills over titles. If you are targeting corporate or international remote roles, understanding how titles map to expectations matters for negotiation.

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