Six years of graduate unemployment in Kenya can feel like a lifetime. When I graduated, I was full of hope. I thought my degree would open doors quickly. I pictured starting a solid career, helping my family, and standing on my own feet soon after. Reality hit differently. Months stretched into years. Rejection emails piled up. My phone would ring, and I’d get excited, only to hear it wasn’t the job I needed. Early on, friends and family said to stay patient. Jobs come with time, they told me.
By years two and three, things changed. At family events, relatives asked pointed questions. Some said I was too picky. Others hinted I wasn’t trying hard enough. It stung. The fact is, I applied everywhere possible. I updated my CV over and over. I went to interviews where I answered well and felt good about it, but no call back ever came. Seeing classmates move ahead, get promotions, and buy homes, while I stayed in the same spot, wore me down emotionally.
This isn’t just my story. In Kenya right now, many graduates face the same struggle. Official figures show youth unemployment remains high, with rates for those 15-24 around 15% in recent years, though broader youth groups (15-34) see even tougher numbers, sometimes reported as high as 67% by employer groups. Over a million young people enter the job market each year, but formal jobs are scarce. Most end up in informal work or underemployed. Read more https://drbokko.com/?p=37399
