Education stakeholders have been urged to urgently review university and technical courses amid growing concerns that many programmes no longer align with the demands of a rapidly evolving job market driven by technology and artificial intelligence.
Duncan Maina raised the alarm on Saturday, April 18, warning that institutions risk producing graduates ill-equipped for emerging opportunities.
“Universities must rethink their programmes because the job market has changed significantly. Many courses being offered today are no longer relevant,” Maina said.
The legislator specifically challenged universities in the Mount Kenya region to integrate information technology into all fields of study rather than offering isolated academic programmes.
He cited a comparison between institutions such as Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, Karatina University, and Kirinyaga University with their counterparts in the Lake Region, including Maseno University and Tom Mboya University.
According to Maina, institutions in Nyanza have adopted a more competitive approach by embedding digital skills across disciplines.
“We have compared the courses being offered at Dedan Kimathi University, Karatina, and Kirinyaga University with those at Maseno and Tom Mboya Universities. Our universities here offer standalone courses,” he said.
“Maseno offers Bachelor of Education with IT, Engineering with IT. When you look at digitisation and AI trends, their students are much more competitive in the labour market,” he added.
Maina also criticized the region’s political focus, saying it has overshadowed critical discussions about education reform and youth employability.
“This pursuit of politics has been neglecting one key aspect—how we position our young people in the labour market,” he noted.
The remarks come amid rising concerns over graduate unemployment. Data from the Ministry of Education Kenya indicates that approximately 50,000 students graduate annually, yet fewer than 40 per cent secure employment, leaving a majority struggling to find meaningful jobs.
Experts have pointed to a widening gap between academic training and industry needs, with employers increasingly prioritizing practical experience, digital literacy, and soft skills over theoretical knowledge.
The concerns also emerge as the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service continues the placement process for the 2025 KCSE cohort.
The agency has urged students to carefully select courses aligned with market demand, with the application window set to close on May 6.
Education stakeholders say reforms will be critical in ensuring graduates remain competitive in a global economy increasingly shaped by digital transformation.
