Friday, March 29, 2024

Why Kenya’s degree holders are among the poorest people in the country

Degrees in Kenya: You may have heard the cliche, Grade A students work for Grade D students. Well, this feature explores why degree holders in this country tend not to do too well when it goes to generating wealth. (The views expressed by our guest Contributor do not expressly reflect the position of Bizna Kenya. Bizna Kenya would love to hear your experience on this subject. Please feel free to leave us your comment):

Most of the educated people in Kenya are poor. Majority of the educated earn less than kshs 50,000 for a salary before tax and other deductions. When the deductions are put into consideration, the net salary comes to around Ksh. 40,000.

The net salary then suffers from loan deductions of up to Ksh.  10,000 leaving the salary at around Ksh. 30,000. The landlord then demands his Ksh. 15,000 and monthly shopping takes away Ksh. 5,000 leaving one with Ksh. 10,000. The bus will demand Ksh. 6000 going to and from work and relatives get another Ksh. 1000. The whole salary is gone and borrowed money starts operating. The borrowed money includes short loans and salary advances.

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The difference between poverty and prosperity is property. A prosperous person has property to his name while a poverty-stricken person has no property to show. Using this understanding, therefore, most of the degree holders are poverty-stricken, borrowing money to buy chicken and chips, pizza, and a car.

The biggest excuse for getting paid such low amounts of money and having to sit and work for another person for 30 days is THE DEGREE that one possesses and that’s all. This has made most of the degree holders very poor to poverty struck and will die that way most likely. According to a recent post on Nairobiwire.com, a degree holder does not know how to generate money unless that money is generated for the employer. A degree holder is so dependent on the salary that he can do anything to get a job but will not think of starting a business of his own to employ others.

1. A degree holder is not prepared to sell chips but is very happy to work for a hungry lion.

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2. A degree holder is not prepared to sell popcorn in the street but is very happy to work for Airtel outlet in a tent by the roadside.

3. A degree holder is not prepared to sell second-hand clothes but is very happy to be employed by a company that is in the business of selling second-hand clothes.

4. A degree holder is not prepared to make Ksh. 100,000 monthly doing his own business but is very happy to work at the till in a bank getting paid Ksh. 70,000.

5. A degree holder is not prepared to start a company and grow it in two to three years but will spend three years searching for a job.

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1 COMMENT

  1. Very shallow and generalized perspective. Instead of the sweeping statement “A degree holder is not prepared to sell chips…” you should have said “A degree holder WHO IS NOT prepared to sell chips…”, because there are several degree holders who work in the informal sector, regardless of their degrees.

    In former years, degrees used to be held in honor and esteem. Today they are as common as diplomas. That would mean that in Nairobi, probably 3 in the 10 people you meet daily are degree holders. I know degree holders who run mitumba stalls in their estates, rear chicken for sale, operate barber shops, run Ubers – all these as side jobs to their main gig. Gone are the days when people used to have a single stream of income.

    Do some research, and perhaps earn yourself a degree to write a more objective piece.

    Thanks

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