Data from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics highlights a concerning trend in the country’s workforce. Each year, new graduates enter the job market, only to find it oversaturated, leaving many without opportunities for employment.
A staggering 77% of youths aged 20 to 29 remain unemployed for over a year. This scarcity of jobs has become a slow-moving crisis, choking the aspirations of young people across the nation. What options do they have?
Some might suggest continuing the search, hoping for a stroke of luck. But is this a viable solution for the 3.2 million Kenyans who are unemployed?
Take the case of Oscar Kasirimo, a graduate from Multimedia University with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Communication. Like many others, Oscar struggled to secure a stable job after completing his studies.
Despite his persistence, job hunting proved fruitless. Faced with limited options, Oscar returned home and decided to try his hand at farming, leveraging the resources available to him.
“I had been applying for jobs, but there were none. So, I sat down with my dad, and we decided to pursue farming because we had the resources,” Oscar shared.
Oscar began farming on his father’s land in Kajiado, focusing on crops like cabbages, onions, maize, and tomatoes. His primary focus is on Copenhagen cabbages, which are well-suited to the arid and semi-arid climate of the region. These cabbages mature quickly, in just three months, making them a promising crop.
“We like Copenhagen cabbages because they thrive in this weather, are resistant to pests and diseases, and mature very quickly,” Oscar explained.
He also benefits from the support of the Kajiado County government, which provides subsidies for pesticides and fertilizers. The county government also sends experts to assist with planting and fertilization procedures.
“We weed every two weeks because the farm has a lot of weeds due to the use of natural manure. We source manure from home since we have plenty of cattle and sheep,” Oscar added.
For irrigation, Oscar uses water from a borehole specifically drilled for farming purposes. He is considering transitioning to solar energy to reduce the high costs of electricity needed to pump water to the farm.
“We’re hoping to install solar panels soon because electricity is really expensive. We hope solar will help us cut costs,” he said.
The price of cabbages varies depending on their size, with larger cabbages fetching higher prices. Initially, Oscar sold his produce locally, but as production increased, he expanded to markets in Kitengela and Athi River.
While farming can be a promising alternative for unemployed youth, it comes with its own set of challenges. For Oscar, the biggest hurdles are pest infestations, which are exacerbated by the semi-arid conditions of the area.
“Pests thrive in this kind of weather, and they really affect us. Wild animals like rabbits are also a problem,” he noted.
Oscar’s story underscores the difficult choices many young Kenyans face in the current job market and the resilience needed to adapt to challenging circumstances.
