In Kisii town, former mechanic Ishmael Keraka now pushes a fruit‑laden mkokoteni through busy streets, a stark shift from his earlier ambition to run a workshop.

In Ogembo, Bobasi, another trained mechanic, John Manyerere faces similar difficulty finding work in his trade.

Laboratory technology graduate Mary Moraa now plaits hair at a small salon, having abandoned her dream of laboratory work.

Former teacher Gregory Ongori left the classroom for a tout position in the matatu industry after rent and food bills outpaced his earnings.

Clinician Thomas Kebuse supplements low earnings from small private hospitals by riding a boda‑boda, describing the side hustle as a necessity.

These individual shifts reflect a broader trend across Kisii County where years of technical and professional training clash with a limited formal‑sector job market.

Families often invest heavily in education, selling livestock, exhausting savings or borrowing to pay fees, only to find a certificate no longer guarantees a stable income.

The informal sector – small businesses, transport services and salons – provides a vital lifeline but offers limited social protection and few pathways for skill utilisation.

Addressing the gap calls for affordable capital, equipment and business support to help technical graduates start enterprises and employ others.

Closer collaboration between training institutions and employers, along with apprenticeships and structured workplace placements, could align curricula with labour‑market needs and improve graduate employability.