"9 years without a job": Graduates take up farming as white-collar jobs prove elusive
Poultry farming is one of the ventures youths are taking up to earn a living as white-collar jobs prove elusive. /JANET AKINYI
As graduates continue to grapple with the unemployment crisis, some have turned to alternative sources of income to make ends meet.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) Economic Survey for 2024, the country's unemployment rate has increased by 0.1 percent from 2023, rising to 5.7 percent.
The 2019 Kenya National Census revealed that 2.7 million people were unemployed, with the majority being youths aged between 20 and 35 years.
Among them, 4.8 percent were university graduates.
The rising unemployment rate has prompted concerns, with the World Bank predicting an even sharper increase if corrective measures are not implemented. Job seekers are tirelessly sending applications, whether vacancies are advertised or not.
“I send applications to every organization I come across, even online. I have submitted ten applications since the beginning of 2025. Because I studied banking, I believe most organizations need my services. However, I have never received any feedback—not even a call for an interview,’’ said Irene Nekesa, a graduate from Moi University.
For some graduates, prolonged joblessness has led to despair, prompting them to abandon the job hunt altogether.
“I can’t remember the number of applications I have sent out because I have given up. Sometimes I question my own worth. As a firstborn, my parents and siblings are counting on me to secure a job and change our home’s financial situation, yet I feel worthless. I used to talk to my uncles, who had promised to help me find a job, but I stopped reaching out when I realized how hard it is everywhere. I have been trying since 2018. I graduated in 2016,” said Evans Oketch, a Bachelor of Education graduate from the University of Nairobi.
In the midst of the challenges, some graduates have turned to agriculture as a viable source of income rather than waiting for elusive employment opportunities.
“Looking at the high unemployment rates, I decided to establish a source of income while still in school. I easily settled on farming since we had a piece of land, and it didn’t require much capital to start. Over time, passion met enthusiasm, and that’s how I have grown. It has been five years since I started farming. Farming pays, and it is satisfying if you have a passion for it,’’ said Augustine Kipkorir, a Communication and Public Relations graduate.
However, he acknowledges that farming has its challenges, just like any other business.
“It requires close attention and can be difficult to start, especially for young people with no capital or sources of income. I have faced challenges ranging from managing my small poultry farm to my small-scale sugarcane farm. These include unfavourable market prices, unpredictable farming policies, and financial constraints in expanding the business. I plan to merge my profession in communication and public relations with farming to maximize my career fulfilment,” he added.
For Odiwuor Okeyo, therapy led him to goat and sheep farming. He shared with Wananchi Reporting that he lost most of his male family members, many of whom did not live to celebrate their 40th birthday. What began as a coping mechanism for grief has since grown into a deep passion, ultimately replacing his engineering career.
“In 2017, I realized I was struggling with grief after losing most of my family members. To cope, I turned to animal therapy and started with ten goats. Two years later, after facing repeated challenges securing a job despite my qualifications, I decided to move upcountry and focus entirely on my small farm,” he said.
Beyond the mental well-being that animal therapy has provided, Okeyo takes pride in the growth of his farm.
“Animal therapy is more of a mental stabilizer than an economic gain for me, but I am now considering it as a full-time career. Currently, I have about 170 goats and 31 sheep, and I am now looking forward to venturing into cattle rearing,” he shared.
He acknowledged that farming comes with its challenges, particularly the high cost of agricultural inputs, and urged the government to address the issue.
“Agricultural inputs are quite expensive, and the government should consider subsidies beyond just fertilizers so as to encourage even youths to invest in agriculture,” he added.
Janet Akinyi, a second-class upper division graduate from Moi University, also saw an opportunity in agriculture and seized it.
“It has been a year since I started my sugarcane plantation. It took me some time to secure an internship after school, so I borrowed some money from M-Shwari, hired three hectares of land, and got seed canes from a sugar company, which will deduct the cost from my payment upon harvest,’’ she explained.
She encourages other graduates and job seekers to start something, however small, as they look for employment.
“It is frustrating to keep sending applications without feedback. To avoid stress and depression, young people should find something to do, even volunteer work. Anyone can do anything, regardless of gender, as long as it is work,” she advised.
As Kenya’s job market remains uncertain, some graduates are discovering that self-employment in agriculture offers stability and financial security. While challenges exist, the growing interest of young people embracing farming suggests that agriculture could be a sustainable alternative to traditional employment paths.
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