The government has acknowledged that a majority of universities in Kenya are offering courses primarily to generate income rather than to equip students with employable skills. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said many institutions continue to admit thousands of students into programmes that have little or no demand in the job market.
Speaking at Kaimosi Friends University in Vihiga County, Ogamba expressed concern that universities are churning out thousands of graduates every year who end up unemployed because their qualifications do not align with national labour needs.
“We have reached a stage where universities are rolling out programmes and issuing qualifications that have no demand in the industry or the market,” the CS warned. “We must link our programmes to industry.”
Ogamba singled out the teaching course as one of the most oversaturated, revealing that while Kenya only requires about 35,000 teachers, universities admit over 100,000 teacher trainees annually. “That leaves at least 65,000 trained teachers every year who cannot be absorbed,” he said.
The CS accused universities of prioritising revenue from admissions over relevance, warning that the practice is worsening youth unemployment. He urged institutions to diversify into under-supplied sectors such as agriculture, technology, and manufacturing, where skill shortages persist.
“Universities must stop viewing education as a business venture. We need a curriculum that reflects national priorities and emerging industries,” Ogamba stated.
The government has now directed universities to review their programmes, strengthen partnerships with industry, and modernise training to align with market realities. Experts argue that unless these reforms are implemented, universities will keep producing jobless graduates – educated, but unemployable.