Last month, at least six universities held graduation ceremonies, marking a momentous milestone for countless Kenyan students. Congratulations, you did it. After years of late nights studying, early mornings in lecture halls and what seemed like endless exams, you have finally earned that coveted degree.
Yet beyond the congratulatory speeches and applause, a harsh reality awaits. The challenges facing university graduates in Kenya today are vast, and the chasm between the idealistic promises of academia and the pragmatic difficulties of the real world yawns wide.
Suddenly, the theories that shaped your years of study ring hypocritical when faced with the hard practicalities of life after the university gates close behind you. For many, the days following graduation mark the beginning of a disillusioned struggle to find purpose and place. The university experience, meant to equip graduates for rewarding futures, instead fosters a sense of dissatisfaction.
With university fees rising steadily over the years, many students rely on Helb loans to finance their education. The debt from the Higher Education Loans Board adds financial stress, especially when decent job opportunities are scarce.
The weight of Helb loans hangs over graduates like a dark cloud, dampening the joy of finally obtaining a degree. Most struggle to find work that pays well enough to cover living expenses and make significant dents in their debt. Some default on loans or spend most of their income on interest payments alone.
While entrepreneurship seems an appealing option, the bureaucratic requirements, lack of access to capital and uncertain economy pose obstacles to aspiring business owners. The pomp and circumstance of graduation fade in the face of these realities.
New entrepreneurs face difficulties accessing business loans and capital to get their ventures off the ground. Strict lending criteria and high interest rates present barriers to graduates with little collateral or credit history.
Navigating the complex business registration process can be frustrating for aspiring entrepreneurs. Multiple licences and permits are required, involving various government agencies and lengthy waiting periods. For graduates eager to implement their ideas, this is just another thorn in the flesh.
Eloquent speeches praising graduates' perseverance and extolling the rewards of education ring hollow when met with a lack of practical support. Though professors and guest speakers fill students with hope during ceremonies, the university's duty to students seemingly ends at graduation.
Yet upon leaving the university, graduates face a harsh reality that contradicts these glowing prophecies. Underemployment or unemployment becomes the norm, calling into question the value of the qualifications attained.
With no mechanisms to aid the transition to employment or entrepreneurship, the reality leaves graduates disappointed in the institution they once revered. Once a source of pride, degrees become symbols of a broken system that ushers students into futures as uncertain as the job market they aim to enter.
At graduation, the future felt bright. Now, you feel unprepared and unmoored. The grand speeches and congratulatory air masked the abyss between university life and what came after. Celebrate your accomplishments, but know that the challenges ahead are many.
The hollowness of empty promises may lead to disenchantment for a time. But don't lose hope - with hard work and perseverance, you can build a bridge between dreams and reality. Your education was a beginning, not an ending. The future remains unwritten, waiting for you to shape it.
