A recent graduate from Egerton University, Mary Muiru, has garnered nationwide attention after being photographed holding a placard along Thika Road on Thursday. In a bid to attract prospective employers, Muiru showcased her qualifications, academic credentials, and phone number on the placard, as seen in widely circulated online photos.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Muiru shared her journey from achieving the highest grade in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2013 to her current situation of seeking employment on the streets. She highlighted her academic achievements, including a Second-Class Upper in Actuarial Science from Egerton University in 2019. Muiru also emphasized her commitment to skill development, having completed certifications in Google Data Analytics, Data Analytics and Visualization, Advanced SQL, Excel, and Microsoft Power BI.
After graduation, Muiru engaged in temporary jobs, starting with promotions at a local supermarket and later venturing into sales and business development roles on short-term contracts. However, she expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of growth in these opportunities, noting her highest monthly pay was Ksh20,000.
Facing scarce job opportunities and numerous rejections, Muiru resorted to begging on the streets due to her family’s financial limitations. Despite her challenging circumstances, Muiru aspires to become a Data Analyst specialist, and her story has garnered attention from potential employers.
The incident sheds light on the broader issue of youth unemployment in Kenya, a situation highlighted in the latest data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS). According to the report, the number of jobless youth increased from 2.89 million in September 2023 to 2.97 million in December 2023, with over 80,000 Kenyans losing their jobs during the same period. The most affected age group was youth aged between 20 and 29 years, accounting for 1.54 million people. Mary Muiru’s experience serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges faced by many youths in the current tough economic climate.
