Fisheries is one of the many degree courses pursued in Kenyan universities. The course is regarded one of the worst programs to pursue in Kenya-it’s in fact useless.
At the moment, securing employment with a degree in fisheries is next to impossibility. Unless you pursue the course to PhD level and become a lecturer, chances of landing a well-paying job in Kenya are slim. It is a fact that only 10 % of graduates with a degree in fisheries secure relevant positions in local firms, which are mostly NGOs.
One of the graduates from Moi University explains her miseries after graduating with a degree in fisheries:
“I know you won’t believe I have stayed jobless for 11 years despite scoring second upper from Moi University. I pursued BSc in Fisheries, which was not my career choice-the Joint Admission Board chose the course for me.
Upon graduation, I started searching for employment. At first I was in Nairobi, for 3 years but I got tired and moved to Mombasa. Dropping my CV from one office to the other, I wasn’t able to get a job.
Finally I decided to come back home, where I have lived for 5 years while applying for jobs from here.I have almost gave up but I decided to start farming”
Asked whether she would advise any Kenyan to study fisheries, the graduate said:
“This is the worst course”
A degree in fisheries has no chance for self-employment, unlike courses like medicine, nursing, architecture and statistics. If you start a consultant firm related to fisheries, you will wait for 10 years to get the first client.
Another reason why the course is useless is because companies employing the graduates are few. Some of these companies include ministry of environment, Kenya Fish Processors & Exporters Association (AFIPEK) and Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute.
The last reason you should not study this course is because salaries are not attractive. This is because the input does not guarantee good pay.
