CHURCHILL ONGALO
Nairobi
Summary
Engineering professional guided by principles of sustainability and responsible judgement. Led multidisciplinary teams to deliver maintenance, upgrades, and new developments on time and to specification while managing risks to mitigate environmental and social impacts. Cultivated strong relationships with senior management, clients, and site teams through effective communication and problem-solving, enhancing service delivery through process improvements and performance monitoring.
Overview
11
11
Certifications
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Consultant Chief Engineer
Gem Forest Hotel Gigiri Nairobi (ACCOR)
10.2025 - 01.2026
- Core Responsibilities
- System Maintenance: Oversaw heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, electrical, lifts, and refrigeration systems.
- Preventive Maintenance: Created and runs scheduled upkeep programs to stop equipment failure before it happens.
- Safety and Compliance: Managed fire protection systems, emergency response plans, and local health regulations.
- Sustainability and Energy: Tracks and reduces electricity, water, and gas usage to meet environmental goals.
- Budget and Resources: Controlled departmental spending, handles capital improvement projects, and buys repair tools or parts.
- Team Leadership: Hired, trained, and scheduled engineering staff and outside contractors for daily tasks and urgent repairs.
- 100 rooms
Cluster Engineer
Knight Frank Kenya Ltd
02.2020 - 09.2025
- Assigned to the following facilities to be maintained: -
- Capital Centre Mall
- Delta Annex – 8 Floor building
- Delta Towers – 17 floors building
- Westend Towers – 16 Floors
- Yaya Centre Mall & 70 apartments
- Core Responsibilities:-
- People Leadership & Management:
- Lead, mentor, and develop a multi-tiered team of engineers and front-line engineering managers.
- Conducted performance reviews, manage compensation, handle early escalations, and drive career progression.
- Strategy & Technical Direction:
- Aligned cluster technical roadmaps with company-wide business objectives and product goals.
- Provide architectural oversight, evaluate major technical trade-offs, and manage systemic technical debt across teams.
- Delivery & Execution Oversight:
- Ensured high-reliability project planning, milestone tracking, and cross-team dependency management.
- Proactively identify delivery risks, resource bottlenecks, and operational blockers.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration:
- Acted as the primary technical interface between engineering clusters and other departments (such as Product, Design, Sales, or Operations).
- Translate complex technical realities into clear business updates for executive leadership.
- Resource & Budget Management:
- Oversaw headcount planning, recruitment, onboarding, and team-building across the cluster.
- Manage operational budgets, tooling investments, and resource allocation.
- Culture & Process Improvement:
- Fostered a high-accountability, inclusive engineering culture focused on quality, automation, and continuous delivery.
- Refine engineering standards, incident response protocols, and cross-team communication workflows.
Chief Engineer
Radisson Blu Arboretum Nairobi (RHG)
04.2018 - 01.2020
- 102 rooms
- Directed preventive maintenance programs for HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and refrigeration systems.
- Monitored fire safety, generator, and emergency systems to maintain guest and asset protection.
- Inspected plant rooms and equipment to identify faults, reduce downtime, and support reliability.
- Implemented energy-saving practices across building systems to improve operational efficiency.
- Ensured compliance with hotel engineering standards, local regulations, and safety procedures.
- Mentored junior engineers, providing guidance on best practices and technical expertise for professional growth.
- Oversaw facility inspections to identify areas of concern or opportunities for improvement in infrastructure management.
- Managed budgets for engineering projects, making strategic decisions to optimize resources while maintaining quality standards.
Chief Engineer
Intercontinental Hotel Nairobi (IHG)
01.2014 - 03.2018
- 380 rooms
Security Manager
KK Security Group Kenya
06.2012 - 01.2014
- Security Manager at Ericsson Kenya ltd. – Security Manager based in Ericsson offices in Nairobi. My main responsibilities were:-
- Developed and implemented policies, protocols, and procedures; created reports for management on security status.
- Managed team of security personnel, providing training, scheduling shifts, and conducting performance reviews for optimal security operations.
- Trained new security staff, imparting knowledge of best practices, operational procedures, and use of security equipment.
- Evaluated security personnel performance, identifying areas for improvement and developing targeted improvement plans.
- Plan and coordinate security operations for specific events.
- Oversaw crowd management at events, ensuring safety and maintaining order to prevent disturbances or unsafe conditions.
- Monitored CCTV systems and alarm responses, analyzing footage for suspicious activities and ensuring rapid response to alerts.
- Monitored CCTV systems to identify disruptions or unlawful acts, promptly reporting any incidents to law enforcement agencies.
- Analyze data to form proposal improvement (e.g implementation of new technology on security system like cctv, perimeter beams, access controls including bollards).
- Review reports on incidents and breaches.
- Investigate and solve issues.
- Attend meetings with other managers to determine operational need.
Facility Manager
Johnson Controls Kenya
01.2011 - 05.2012
- Core Responsibilities
- Building Operations & Maintenance: Manage preventive and corrective maintenance for hard systems like HVAC, electrical, plumbing, elevators, and fire safety equipment.
- Health, Safety & Compliance: Enforce occupational health and safety (HHS) regulations, run risk assessments, conduct safety drills, and maintain emergency response plans.
- Vendor & Contract Management: Source, negotiate, and monitor service-level agreements (SLAs) with external contractors for cleaning, security, waste disposal, landscaping, and repairs.
- Budgeting & Cost Control: Prepare annual operational budgets, track expenditures, optimize resource use, and drive cost-saving initiatives.
- Space & Asset Management: Plan workplace layouts, handle occupancy tracking, oversee asset lifecycles, and support office moves or renovations.
- Sustainability & Energy Management: Track and reduce energy and water consumption, implement green building practices, and support carbon-reduction goals.
- Soft Services Coordination: Oversee facility support services including janitorial cleaning, workplace security, reception, and pest control.
- Facility Manager Ericsson Kenya ltd :-
Operations & Maintenance Manager
Northern Engineering Works
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Core Responsibilities
- Preventive Maintenance: Conducted scheduled inspections and servicing of BTS hardware, power systems (rectifiers, batteries, generators), and cooling units to prevent sudden outages.
- Corrective Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Responded to fault alarms dispatched by the Network Operations Center (NOC), isolate hardware or software errors, and restore services swiftly.
- Hardware and Component Replacement: Swap out faulty baseband units, Remote Radio Units (RRUs), transceiver boards, power supply modules, and fibre/RF jumper cables on-site.
- Antenna and Transmission Upkeep: Checked and realign microwave dishes and cellular antennas, measure Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), and test feeder cables for optimal signal transmission.
- Software and Firmware Upgrades: Installed routine configuration updates, patch security vulnerabilities, and optimize system performance parameters.
- Documentation and Reporting: Logged maintenance activities, report spare parts usage, and document incident resolutions and site compliance checks.
Groups Project Manager
Opulent Hotel Group
01.2007 - 01.2008
- Core responsibilities: -
- Oversaw and supervised commissioning and handover of DoubleTree by Hilton, ensuring timely completion of laundry room, main office complex, swimming pool, jetty spa, gym, conference hall, three restaurants, and 158 rooms. Developed maintenance procedures for each section, installed synchronized generators, and supervised 45 multidisciplinary staff and contractors to meet project deadlines.
- Developed comprehensive project plans, outlining scopes, timelines, and resources, facilitating smooth execution.
- Coordinated with clients to define project objectives and requirements, ensuring alignment with business goals.
- Cultivated strong relationships with clients, stakeholders, and team members, building a culture of trust and cooperation.
- Facilitated regular team meetings and stakeholder updates, fostering open communication and collaborative problem-solving.
- Monitored service delivery and proactively addressed issues to maintain project timelines and quality standards.
- Directed the resolution of project issues and conflicts, ensuring minimal impact on project progress and outcomes.
- Streamlined communication channels between project teams and external partners, improving coordination and project cohesiveness.
Technical / Operations & Maintenance Engineer
Linksoft Communications ltd.
01.2006 - 01.2007
- Core Responsibilities
- Preventive Maintenance: Conducted scheduled inspections and servicing of BTS hardware, power systems (rectifiers, batteries, generators), and cooling units to prevent sudden outages.
- Corrective Maintenance & Troubleshooting: Responded to fault alarms dispatched by the Network Operations Center (NOC), isolate hardware or software errors, and restore services swiftly.
- Hardware and Component Replacement: Swap out faulty baseband units, Remote Radio Units (RRUs), transceiver boards, power supply modules, and fibre/RF jumper cables on-site.
- Antenna and Transmission Upkeep: Checked and realign microwave dishes and cellular antennas, measure Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), and test feeder cables for optimal signal transmission.
- Software and Firmware Upgrades: Installed routine configuration updates, patch security vulnerabilities, and optimize system performance parameters.
- Documentation and Reporting: Logged maintenance activities, report spare parts usage, and document incident resolutions and site compliance checks.
Projects Engineering Manager
Artwood Holdings
01.2005 - 01.2006
- Core Responsibilities: -
- Project Delivery & Control: Oversaw the projects lifecycle, controlling scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk management.
- Direction Technical Leadership &: Directed to all engineering activities and acts as the final point of escalation for complex technical challenges.
- Design & Deliverable Coordination: Oversaw the production of engineering plans, drawings, and specifications to ensure they match project requirements
- Scope & Change Management: Evaluated technical modifications and tracks their direct impact on project timelines and budgets.
- Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Ensured all designs, materials, and site operations comply with statutory laws, industry codes, and health, safety, and environment (HSE) standards.
- Resource & Team Allocation: Managed engineering personnel, assigns tasks, coordinates with third-party contractors, and tracks team productivity. [
- Stakeholder Communication: Serves as the primary technical point of contact between clients, senior leadership, cross-functional departments, and vendors.
Project Engineer
M & E Consulting Engineers
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Core Responsibilities:-
- System Design and Drafting: Created detailed electrical plans, schematics, and wiring diagrams using cad software for power distribution, lighting, and extra-low voltage (ELV) systems.
- Load Analysis and Calculations: Performed heavy electrical load computations, circuit sizing, and transformer specifications to make sure power grids or buildings handle demand safely.
- Code Compliance: Ensured every design follows local safety regulations, building codes, and industry standards before securing official permits.
- Multidisciplinary Coordination: Worked closely with architects, mechanical engineers, and general contractors to blend electrical layouts smoothly into the overall project.
- Cost Estimation and Procurement: Prepared bills of materials, select reliable equipment parts, and draft cost estimates using tools like Microsoft excel
- Site Inspections and Commissioning: Visited job sites, troubleshoot unexpected issues during installation, and help test systems during final project handover.
Factory Superintendent Electrical
Kisii Bottlers ltd
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Core Responsibilities:-
- System Design and Drafting: Created detailed electrical plans, schematics, and wiring diagrams using cad software for power distribution, lighting, and extra-low voltage (ELV) systems.
- Load Analysis and Calculations: Performed heavy electrical load computations, circuit sizing, and transformer specifications to make sure power grids or buildings handle demand safely.
- Code Compliance: Ensured every design follows local safety regulations, building codes, and industry standards before securing official permits.
- Multidisciplinary Coordination: Worked closely with architects, mechanical engineers, and general contractors to blend electrical layouts smoothly into the overall project.
- Cost Estimation and Procurement: prepared bills of materials, select reliable equipment parts, and draft cost estimates using tools like Microsoft excel
- Site Inspections and Commissioning: Visited job sites, troubleshoot unexpected issues during installation, and help test systems during final project handover.
Senior Engineer
Howard Humphreys Consulting Engineers
01.1994 - 01.1999
- Core Responsibilities:-
- System Design and Drafting: Created detailed electrical plans, schematics, and wiring diagrams using cad software for power distribution, lighting, and extra-low voltage (ELV) systems.
- Load Analysis and Calculations: Performed heavy electrical load computations, circuit sizing, and transformer specifications to make sure power grids or buildings handle demand safely.
- Code Compliance: Ensured every design follows local safety regulations, building codes, and industry standards before securing official permits.
- Multidisciplinary Coordination: Worked closely with architects, mechanical engineers, and general contractors to blend electrical layouts smoothly into the overall project.
- Cost Estimation and Procurement: prepared bills of materials, select reliable equipment parts, and draft cost estimates using tools like Microsoft excel
- Site Inspections and Commissioning: Visit job sites, troubleshoot unexpected issues during installation, and help test systems during final project handover.
Maintenance Engineer
Alsafi Diary Plant
07.1997 - 12.1997
- Core Responsibilities:-
- Preventive & Predictive Maintenance: Created and run scheduled inspection plans for pasteurizers, homogenizers, separators, and filling lines to stop unexpected breakdowns.
- Breakdown Troubleshooting & Repairs: Diagnose and fix mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and control system faults quickly when machines fail.
- Sanitation & Hygiene Compliance: Ensure clean-in-place (CIP) systems, valves, pumps, and pipelines meet strict food-safety and sanitary standards.
- Reliability & Performance Optimization: Analyzed machine data and run root-cause analysis on recurring failures to boost equipment life and output.
- Spare Parts & Inventory Management: Tracked and order critical replacement parts, gaskets, seals, and consumables to minimize repair delays.
- Safety & Regulatory Audits: Enforced workplace safety rules (such as OSHA or local industrial standards) and maintain up-to-date maintenance logs and compliance records.
- Team Supervision & Contractor Coordination: Directed technician shifts, train staff on equipment operation, and oversee outside contractors for specialized overhauls.
- Saudi Arabia Riyadh - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Electrical Engineer
Alexander Gibbs & Partners
01.1992 - 01.1994
- Core Responsibilities
- System Design and Drafting: Created detailed electrical plans, schematics, and wiring diagrams using cad software for power distribution, lighting, and extra-low voltage (ELV) systems.
- Load Analysis and Calculations: Performed heavy electrical load computations, circuit sizing, and transformer specifications to make sure power grids or buildings handle demand safely.
- Code Compliance: Ensured every design follows local safety regulations, building codes, and industry standards before securing official permits.
- Multidisciplinary Coordination: Worked closely with architects, mechanical engineers, and general contractors to blend electrical layouts smoothly into the overall project.
- Cost Estimation and Procurement: prepared bills of materials, select reliable equipment parts, and draft cost estimates using tools like Microsoft excel
- Site Inspections and Commissioning: Visited job sites, troubleshoot unexpected issues during installation, and help test systems during final project handover.
Technician Engineer
M & E Consulting Engineers
01.1989 - 01.1992
- Core Responsibilities:-
- System Design and Drafting: Created detailed electrical plans, schematics, and wiring diagrams using cad software for power distribution, lighting, and extra-low voltage (ELV) systems.
- Load Analysis and Calculations: Performed heavy electrical load computations, circuit sizing, and transformer specifications to make sure power grids or buildings handle demand safely.
- Code Compliance: Ensured every design follows local safety regulations, building codes, and industry standards before securing official permits.
- Multidisciplinary Coordination: Worked closely with architects, mechanical engineers, and general contractors to blend electrical layouts smoothly into the overall project.
- Cost Estimation and Procurement: prepared bills of materials, select reliable equipment parts, and draft cost estimates using tools like Microsoft excel
- Site Inspections and Commissioning: Visited job sites, troubleshoot unexpected issues during installation, and help test systems during final project handover.
Education
Higher National Diploma - Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Kenya polytechnic Nairobi
Nairobi12-1989
Skills
Facility maintenance
Building operations
Project management
Vendor coordination
Analytical
Certification
Supervision Training Course : Security manning training, 10/2012 KK Training Centre - Karen - Supervision Training Course
Timeline
Consultant Chief Engineer
Gem Forest Hotel Gigiri Nairobi (ACCOR)
10.2025 - 01.2026
Cluster Engineer
Knight Frank Kenya Ltd
02.2020 - 09.2025
Chief Engineer
Radisson Blu Arboretum Nairobi (RHG)
04.2018 - 01.2020
Chief Engineer
Intercontinental Hotel Nairobi (IHG)
01.2014 - 03.2018
Security Manager
KK Security Group Kenya
06.2012 - 01.2014
Facility Manager
Johnson Controls Kenya
01.2011 - 05.2012
Operations & Maintenance Manager
Northern Engineering Works
01.2008 - 01.2011
Groups Project Manager
Opulent Hotel Group
01.2007 - 01.2008
Technical / Operations & Maintenance Engineer
Linksoft Communications ltd.
01.2006 - 01.2007
Projects Engineering Manager
Artwood Holdings
01.2005 - 01.2006
Project Engineer
M & E Consulting Engineers
01.2002 - 01.2005
Factory Superintendent Electrical
Kisii Bottlers ltd
01.1999 - 01.2002
Maintenance Engineer
Alsafi Diary Plant
07.1997 - 12.1997
Senior Engineer
Howard Humphreys Consulting Engineers
01.1994 - 01.1999
Electrical Engineer
Alexander Gibbs & Partners
01.1992 - 01.1994
Technician Engineer
M & E Consulting Engineers
01.1989 - 01.1992
Higher National Diploma - Electrical & Electronics Engineering
Kenya polytechnic Nairobi