Female Kenyan Graduate Turns Security Guard After 3 Years Of Job Hunting

• Rose Njeri graduated from the South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) in March 2017 with a bachelor of science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• She searched for a job for two years without success and decided to grab whatever opportunity come her way.
• Currently, she is working as a security guard with one of the security firms in Kirinyaga even as fate of millions of graduates hang in balance due to Covid-19

Since the first case of the novel coronavirus was recorded in the country, millions of Kenyans have lost their jobs due to the dire effects of the pandemic.

This has added to the other millions of unemployed graduates who enter the job hunting bracket every year.

Rose Njeri who holds a bachelors degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology has inspired many after she came out to give hope for the millions of unemployed graduates.

The 29-year old graduate said she never imagined that one day she will guard people’s life and their property after going through four years of hardship in university.

Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, she said after her graduation in March 2017 from the South Eastern of Kenya University (SEKU), she was optimistic that she would land a plum job.

“I made over 100 job applications and traveling from one county to another without success,” she said.

After two years of searching for a white-collar job with no success, Njeri decided to grab whatever opportunity that would come her way and in early 2019, she landed a security job.

“The only opportunity that came my way was that of a security guard and specifically for night shift. Since I had no otherwise I decided to give it a try to make both ends meet,” she narrated.

She said at first it was not an easy task working as a night shift guard and she kept on feeling shy but realised how important the job was when the pandemic hit the country in March 2020.

“Since the coronavirus pandemic started, I have learnt that everything has a reason and purpose. I say this because many graduates working in bigger companies have been laid off with nowhere to call office or work place but as for me working as a guard am still reporting to work as usual,” she said.

Njeri’s advice to other millions of unemployed youths is that they should not be selective when looking for jobs.

“What I can advise fellow graduates is not to be idle. Let them find something to do and they should not be choosy. If you get any kind of a job just do it and maybe you might land your dream job through from where you are,” she said.

Her biggest challenge she said is that people think all guards are illiterate hence they look down on them adding to the low salaries they get.

Njeri said that although whatever she earns is not to her expectations, she decided to love her work and she currently doesn’t feel ashamed.

“So my fellow youths and graduates out there don’t be ashamed of what you do as long as it is legal, be proud, have fun doing it and remember there is no story without a start,” she said.