A jobless graduate in Kisii Town drew a crowd of stunned onlookers after scattering his academic certificates, including his KCSE results and university degree papers, across the pavement in a raw act of desperation over his inability to find work.
Footage of the incident, captured outdoors along a street in Kisii Town, shows the man seated amid the strewn documents while bystanders and a motorcycle rider look on.
On-screen captions in the video pose a pointed question:
“How many young people have studied hard, sacrificed their time and resources, only to graduate into uncertainty and hopelessness?”
Certificates With No Door to Open
The man’s decision to abandon the certificates he reportedly worked years to earn reflects a frustration shared by many young Kenyans who find themselves locked out of formal employment despite holding academic qualifications.
The video, shared by the TikTok account Nairobi Juice, spread rapidly online, striking a nerve with viewers who recognised the despair in the gesture. Kenya’s graduate unemployment challenge is well documented.
According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, youth unemployment remains one of the country’s most persistent economic concerns, with a significant proportion of degree holders unable to secure jobs matching their qualifications.
Kenyans React Online
The clip prompted a range of responses from viewers, with some expressing sympathy and others offering blunt advice.
@julia:
“Watu waache kuwa na expectations mingi after graduation. Huku nje life doesn’t care whether you have a degree or not; take any decent job as you continue applying for the one you studied for and be open to other opportunities.”
@Oliva:
“You should be able to figure out how to make some money by the time you finish primary school…education is just the key.”
@Branzlavin:
“Please rescue this man; give him a job to feed his family. I wish Kenya could be like other countries.”
The scene in Kisii has become a symbol of a painful reality for thousands of Kenyan graduates who emerge from years of academic sacrifice only to find the job market unwilling to absorb them, leaving many questioning what their qualifications are truly worth.
