Bomet County, Kenya – In a striking reflection of the country’s youth unemployment crisis, some college graduates in Bomet County are turning to manual labor at local quarries to make ends meet. Despite holding diplomas and degrees, these graduates have struggled to secure formal employment, forcing them to engage in physically demanding jobs such as crushing stones to earn a daily wage.
According to reports, the graduates work long hours under tough conditions, often earning meager pay just to support themselves and their families. This trend highlights the growing disconnect between Kenya’s higher education output and the available job market. Experts warn that the mismatch between skills development and employment opportunities is contributing to frustration and economic insecurity among young Kenyans.
The situation has sparked calls for the government and private sector to intensify efforts in creating meaningful job opportunities and vocational training programs. Initiatives targeting small-scale enterprise support, industrial internships, and skills-based employment could help mitigate the pressure on young graduates while boosting local economic productivity. For now, many graduates continue to endure the harsh reality of labor-intensive work as they seek pathways to better livelihoods.