For more than 15 years since receiving praise after graduating with first-class honours at the University of Nairobi (UoN), Isaac Hague Oritcho has known nothing but pain.
His sad story began in 2007 shortly after he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology from UoN hoping that he would reap success for the rest of his life.
"In the unlimited applications I have made ever since I graduated I have been turned down mostly for over qualifications or lack of job which to me is very strange," he revealed in a previous media interview.
His journey of academic prowess kicked off at Kondele Primary School where he garnered 486 marks out of the 700 total graded at the time.
Immediately, he transitioned to Kisumu Boys High School and after four years of hard work, he graduated with a B+ and earned a slot at the leading public university.
During his time pursuing an undergraduate degree, Oritcho's hard work was noticed earning him a full scholarship to pursue a master's degree, which he did majoring in Applied Human Nutrition.
Efforts to apply for formal employment after his master's degree graduation however proved futile.
"I didn't know that my hard work would one day betray me. I remember back in High School and University I would sacrifice my sleep to trans-night almost daily hoping my future would be bright. Unfortunately, right now I am surrounded by disappointments," he revealed in an interview with K24.
Oritcho further revealed that he has sent over 1,000 applications with no positive response.
The last brush he had with employment was a job as a part-time lecturer at Masinde Muliro University whose payment he claimed he never received.
"Sometimes I think death is the only solution for me, especially since I don't see a chance of living. Not once, not twice have I thought of taking a rat and rat to take away my life because after death there is no suffering. I have suffered a lot," he added.
To make ends meet, he took up casual jobs such as cattle grazing.
Oritcho's struggles mirror so many Kenyans who graduate every year with successful academic papers only to face a grim corporate world with a fraction of job opportunities, pushing many into entrepreneurship.
Statista forecasts that the rate of unemployment in Kenya is expected to swell to 5.41 per cent, with the total number of employed individuals estimated to hit 27.71 million by the close of 2023.
Research has also shown that between 500,000 to 800,000, fresh graduates enter the job market every year and compete for limited opportunities.
A recent report by the Federation of Kenyan Employers (FKE) indicated that 43.8 per cent of employers demand an undergraduate degree, 34.9 per cent of employers require at least a certificate from Technical and Vocational colleges, while 23.4 per cent ask for a certificate from secondary school.
Only 12.1 per cent of employers require a Masters Degree, while 3.3 are keen on post-doctoral achievers.
