Graduates have been urged to convert the talents, skills, and creativity nurtured during their studies into income-generating ventures as a pathway to overcoming unemployment.
Mount Kenya University (MKU) Vice Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi said today’s job market demands graduates who can innovate, commercialize their abilities, and create opportunities rather than rely solely on traditional employment.
Speaking during the university’s 28th Graduation Ceremony in Thika, Prof. Jaganyi said the institution has deliberately infused talent development, co-curricular excellence, and hands-on skill-building into the academic journey to prepare learners for a rapidly changing labor market.
“Graduands have been sufficiently exposed to co-curricular activities designed to grow their talents and creativity and to equip them with critical physical and cognitive abilities,” Prof. Jaganyi said.
The VC noted that the university’s sustained investment in sports, performing arts, and creative industries has not only boosted student confidence but also produced award-winning talent capable of earning professionally.
The university was recently crowned the best private university overall at the 97th Kenya National Music Festivals and posted strong performances at the East Africa Music, Dance, and Drama Festival and the Federation of Africa University Sports (FASU) tennis championships.
In athletics, MKU clinched the overall title at the 2025 Kenya University Sports Federation National Championship, while students from the creative arts department continue to feature prominently in film, dance, and performance circuits.
“These achievements are not for prestige alone; they signal the marketable abilities our students possess,” Prof. Jaganyi said, urging graduates to leverage their training, recognize their competitive strengths, and position themselves for income opportunities in Kenya’s fast-growing creative and sports economy.
MKU founder and Board Chairman Prof. Simon Gicharu highlighted the university’s international placement programs as part of its broader strategy to help learners convert their skills into meaningful careers.
He said MKU has established strong linkages with institutions in Germany, including Hochschule Koblenz and several health-care facilities, enabling 54 nursing apprentices to secure placement abroad across four cohorts, with the fifth scheduled for March 2026.
“This Germany partnership has become a sustainable model for international professional placement. We encourage graduates to take advantage of such opportunities,” he said.
by Muoki Charles
