Attending the “right” university can significantly enhance your prospects in Kenya’s competitive job market. While employers value qualities such as experience, creativity, and leadership, the institution where you earned your degree also plays a crucial role in their hiring decisions.
Research indicates that many Kenyan employers prefer graduates based on their past experiences with alumni from specific institutions. According to a 2020 study titled “State of Graduate Employability in Kenya” by CPS International, the University of Nairobi (UoN) produces the most sought-after graduates in the job market.
One reason for this preference is the high number of senior executives who are UoN alumni. The institution was ranked as the leading university for employability, boasting an employability index of 38.6 percent.
UoN: The Only Kenyan University in the World’s Top Universities
According to the CPS International ranking, the top ten Kenyan universities with graduates who enjoy a strong reputation and a clear advantage in the job market are:
- University of Nairobi (UoN) – 38.6 percent
- Kenyatta University – 30 percent
- Moi University – 25.1 percent
- Jomo Kenyatta University – 19.8 percent
- Egerton University – 18.3 percent
- Maseno University – 18.1 percent
- Mount Kenya University – 11 percent
- Technical University of Kenya – 10.2 percent
- Masinde Muliro University – 6.9 percent
- United States International University (USIU) – 6.2 percent
The study also highlights that the majority of employed graduates, 46.7 percent, come from business and economic studies. Engineering graduates make up 11.1 percent, while medical graduates account for 8.9 percent. Graduates in ICT and natural sciences represent 6.7 percent, art and design 4.4 percent, and those in law, humanities, and other fields make up 2.2 percent.
