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In Kenya, higher education is a gateway to personal and national development. However, not all university courses are created equal—some are simply out of touch with the country’s realities. As we look ahead to 2025, let’s explore some courses that don’t make sense in Kenya and highlight practical alternatives that Kenyan universities are already offering.
While space science is a fascinating field, Kenya’s space program is still in its early stages. Without a robust space industry, graduates of this course might struggle to find relevant job opportunities.
Why it’s not practical: Limited infrastructure and job market demand.
Studying ancient Greek and Roman history, literature, and philosophy might be intellectually stimulating, but it has little relevance to Kenya’s cultural and historical context.
Why it’s not practical: Misaligned with Kenya’s development needs and job market.
While fashion design is a creative and potentially lucrative field, Kenya’s fashion industry is still developing. Without strong local industry support, graduates might find it hard to establish themselves.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job opportunities and industry infrastructure.
Philosophy is a deeply theoretical course that explores abstract concepts like ethics, logic, and metaphysics. While it’s great for critical thinking, it often lacks direct career pathways in Kenya.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job market demand and unclear career prospects.
Actuarial science is a highly specialized field focused on risk assessment in insurance and finance. While it’s a prestigious course, Kenya has seen an overproduction of actuarial science graduates, leading to stiff competition and limited job openings.
Why it’s not practical: Oversupply of graduates and limited job opportunities.
Anthropology involves the study of human societies and cultures. While it’s academically interesting, it often lacks direct application in Kenya’s job market, where technical and vocational skills are more in demand.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job market relevance.
Fine art and sculpture are creative fields, but they often struggle to provide stable career opportunities in Kenya. Many graduates end up working in unrelated fields due to limited demand for their skills.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job opportunities and market demand.
While libraries are important, the digitization of information has reduced the demand for traditional library roles. This course might not offer as many opportunities as it once did.
Why it’s not practical: Declining relevance in the digital age.
While gender studies are important for social progress, this course often lacks clear career pathways. Graduates might struggle to find jobs that directly align with their qualifications.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job market demand.
Political science is a popular course, but Kenya has an oversupply of graduates in this field. Many end up in unrelated careers due to limited job opportunities in politics and public administration.
Why it’s not practical: Oversupply of graduates and stiff competition.
While journalism is a vital field, many programs still focus heavily on traditional media (print, radio, TV) rather than digital media. This leaves graduates unprepared for the evolving media landscape.
Why it’s not practical: Misalignment with modern media trends.
Religious studies focus on the academic study of religions. While it’s intellectually enriching, it often lacks direct career pathways in Kenya’s job market.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job market relevance.
Music and dance are creative fields, but they often struggle to provide stable career opportunities. Many graduates end up working in unrelated fields due to limited demand for their skills.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job opportunities and market demand.
While history and archaeology are important for preserving cultural heritage, they often lack direct application in Kenya’s job market. Graduates might struggle to find relevant opportunities.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job market relevance.
Pure mathematics is a highly theoretical course that focuses on abstract concepts. While it’s great for academia, it often lacks direct career pathways in Kenya’s job market.
Why it’s not practical: Limited job market demand.
Limited Job Opportunities: Many of these courses don’t align with the demands of Kenya’s job market.
Oversupply of Graduates: Some fields, like actuarial science and political science, have too many graduates competing for too few jobs.
Misalignment with National Goals: Courses that don’t contribute to Kenya’s Vision 2030 or other development plans may leave graduates struggling to find meaningful work.
Theoretical Focus: Courses that are too theoretical often lack practical applications in the real world.
Align Courses with Market Demand: Universities should focus on offering programs that meet the needs of the job market.
Promote Technical and Vocational Training: Practical skills are often more valuable in Kenya’s economy.
Update Curricula: Courses like journalism should evolve to reflect modern trends, such as digital media.
Career Guidance: Students need better guidance to choose courses that offer clear career pathways.
While every course has its merits, some programs offered in Kenyan universities may not make much sense in 2025 due to limited job opportunities, oversupply of graduates, or misalignment with national goals. Students should carefully consider their career prospects before enrolling in these courses, and universities should strive to offer programs that are both academically enriching and practically relevant.
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