For many Kenyan youths, there’s a growing sense of despair after finally fulfilling their dreams and donning graduation gowns and hats on their long-awaited graduation days. It’s a day that’s been anticipated since early kindergarten.
The common chronicle afterwards is that after university there are no jobs. They have to struggle to make ends meet as a young generation. With no source of income, where does this falling nexus meet the ravaging crisis?
Some turn to the bottle to drink away the pain and temporarily escape the hardships, others relentlessly tarmac and settle for less. Meanwhile, others have conjured up a way into entrepreneurship, albeit not the easy route.
To many young Kenyans, ‘Education is the key to success’ might not make sense to them now, despite its vitality. These days, they say ‘Escape the matrix’ by engaging in other equally productive activities, such as learning high-income skills.
This narration is nearly similar to the life of John Muuru. In an exclusive interview with a local media house, John disclosed that he was raised by a single mum, Jane Supuu.
She did her best to educate her son, but to a large extent, she has not seen any significant returns from her investment.
John did his primary education exams at New Highlight Primary School in Dagoretti and scored 394 marks. After KCPE, he joined Upperhill High School and scored a B+ in KCSE.
“Kenyatta University called me to study Agricultural Resource Management and four years later, I graduated with flying colours,” John narrated.
Despite having impressive academic achievements, Muuru has struggled to get a sustainable job, that was promised to him when he started schooling at a young age. This predicament is shared by many millennial Kenyan creatives.
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“The struggle to get employed is real and during the COVID-19 times, my mum, a Mugithi artiste, was suddenly left jobless because of the lockdown,” he continued.
Rather than succumbing to depression or idleness, aimlessly wandering around with little to do, John Muuru used his academic expertise to open a small agro-processing unit at home.
“I thought of utilising my education and started a small agro-processing unit in my mum’s kitchen where I process raw milk and make yoghurt for sale. Currently, I’m still applying for jobs but since I know the struggles of tarmacking, I am still open to being an employer.”
John Muuru is now creating job opportunities for his fellow youth, a commendable feat. In the future, John looks to expand his business and improve his value-addition skills.
“The yoghurt business is profitable even if I’m doing it on a small scale just to sustain myself. It gives 100% profit. I would like to go big because it will create opportunities for others,” he said.
“I also charge Sh. 5,000 for processing lessons.”