- Isaac Hague Oritcho is a first class honors graduate who has been jobless of 15 years now. Some employers have told him he is overqualified for the available jobs
The number of Kenyans who are gainfully employed continues to plummet as the country’s economic situation continues to deteriorate.
A good number of highly educated individuals find themselves tarmacking for years in search of employment. This is the case of Isaac Hague Oritcho, who despite graduating with first class honors, has been jobless for 15 years.
Education
Isaac was a top performer right from primary school. He scored 486 out of 700 in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education at Kondele Primary School. He proceeded to Kisumu Boys High School (since renamed Kisumu School) where he attained B+ (Plus) mean grade in 2001.
With his future looking all bright, he joined the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a bachelors degree in Food Science and Technology at the University of Nairobi in 2007 where he emerged the best performer.
Having attained first class honors, he was awarded a full scholarship to pursue a Masters in Applied human nutrition.
Joblessness
His academic pursuits have not earned him employment even after applying sending out 1,000 job applications,
“I didn’t know that my hard work would one day betray me. I remember back in High School and University I would sacrifice my sleep to trans-night almost daily hoping my future would be bright. Unfortunately, right now I am surrounded by disappointments, “ a frustrated Isaac told K24 Digital.
He went on to add that he has mostly been turned down for being overqualified.
He recalled successfully applying for a part-lecture job at Masinde Muliro University where he worked for one semester but was not paid.
“I tried doing follow-ups but every time I am told to wait until I am like giving up. Someone was telling me to get a lawyer to help me out but I don’t have money to pay him/her. I find it odd. I don’t know if I am being punished for being a genius… Indeed the world can sometimes be unfair, ” he said.
Now in his early 40s, he shared how he was embarrassed and heartbroken when a former classmate who was driving a classy car asked him where he was nowadays.
“……I didn’t know how to answer him so I had to pretend that I was in a hurry, ” he told K24.
Herding parents cattle
With no job in sight, Isaac retreated to Migoso Village in Kisumu County where he herds his parents cattle.