Ever heard of a university graduate hawking mitumba or driving a boda boda? It’s a harsh reality for many. This list of top 10 useless degrees in Kenya looks at qualifications that often lead to a tough job hunt after graduation.
We’re breaking down why these courses struggle in our local market, so you can make a more informed choice. Knowing this can save you years and thousands in tuition for a paper that doesn’t open doors.
What Makes This List
This isn’t about bashing any field of study. We’re looking at degrees where the supply of graduates in Kenya far outstrips the available, relevant jobs, leading to chronic underemployment. The ranking considers local market saturation, average starting salaries, and the real need for these specific skills in our economy right now. It’s a practical guide to help you see beyond the university brochure and understand the post-graduation hustle.
1. Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
While studying great thinkers is enriching, a pure philosophy degree offers few direct career paths in Kenya’s job market. Employers often see it as too abstract, lacking the technical or vocational skills they desperately need. Graduates find themselves competing for generic roles where their specific training isn’t valued.
You’ll find many philosophy graduates in Nairobi taking entry-level admin jobs or joining the crowded field of content writing, where their degree gives them no real edge. The classic “tarmacking” struggle is very real here, as they try to explain how Kant’s theories apply to office work.
If you love philosophy, pair it with a more marketable major like Law, Computer Science, or Education to have a practical fallback plan.
2. Bachelor of Arts in History and Archaeology
Preserving our past is crucial, but job opportunities in this field are extremely limited. The National Museums of Kenya only has a handful of permanent, well-paying curator or archaeologist positions, creating a massive bottleneck. Most graduates end up in unrelated fields.
Beyond the museums, opportunities are scarce unless you venture into poorly funded county heritage projects or tourism, which is itself volatile. Many end up as high school teachers, but even those positions are highly competitive and don’t require such a specialized degree.
Consider this path only if you are prepared for further specialized studies abroad or have a concrete plan in academia, knowing the opportunities at home are few.
3. Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts and Film Technology
Kenya’s creative industry is growing, but it’s notoriously difficult to break into and even harder to make a stable living. This degree often leads to chronic freelance gigs with long periods of no work and unreliable pay. The industry runs more on networks and talent than formal qualifications.
Think of the many actors waiting for a call from Riverwood or a chance with a mainstream TV station like Citizen. The reality is a lot of waiting, small YouTube projects, and side hustles to make ends meet, with the degree itself opening very few doors.
Build a strong portfolio and network aggressively while in school. The degree alone won’t get you jobs; your demonstrated skill and connections will.
4. Bachelor of Science in Animal Production and Health
This sounds practical for an agricultural nation, but the course is often too broad and theoretical. The job market expects very specific veterinary skills, which this degree doesn’t provide. Graduates find themselves underqualified for veterinary roles but overqualified for basic farm hand work.
You might find a graduate advising a dairy farmer in Limuru, but they’re competing with experienced extension officers and practical animal health assistants. Many end up in agrovet shop sales, a job that doesn’t require a four-year degree.
If passionate about livestock, target a specialized, regulated course like Veterinary Medicine or a focused diploma in animal health that leads to certification.
5. Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (General)
The media landscape has radically changed. Newsrooms are shrinking, and the skill in demand is digital content creation—video, social media, data journalism—not just traditional reporting. A general journalism degree that doesn’t heavily integrate digital media skills leaves graduates behind.
Look at the number of journalism graduates from schools like USIU or Daystar applying for the same few intern positions at Nation Media or Standard. Many end up in corporate communications, a field where a PR or business degree would have been more direct.
Choose a program with a strong digital and multimedia focus, or combine journalism with IT, data science, or a specific subject like economics to specialize.
6. Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration
This degree is often seen as a direct ticket to a county or national government job, but that’s a major misconception. These positions are highly politicized and depend on connections and patronage more than academic merit. The degree itself is considered generic by many private sector employers.
Counties are bloated with staff, and new hires are often tied to political cycles. A graduate might spend years doing casual clerical work (“kupea karatasi”) in a county office, waiting for a permanent letter that never comes, all while earning a small allowance.
If interested in governance, pair this with Law, Project Management, or Finance to gain technical skills that are transferable to NGOs and the private sector.
7. Bachelor of Education (Arts) in Over-Offered Subjects
Not all teaching degrees are equal. The market is saturated with teachers of subjects like History, CRE, and Geography. The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has a long, stagnant waiting list for these subjects, while there’s a dire shortage in sciences, languages, and special needs education.
A graduate with a B.Ed in History can wait for years on TSC’s unemployment list, surviving on brief substitute teaching stints in local schools. Meanwhile, schools in North Eastern are begging for Chemistry teachers.
Before enrolling, check the latest TSC shortage lists and choose a subject combination that is in high demand to avoid the post-graduation queue.
8. Bachelor of Science in Hospitality and Tourism Management
Kenya’s tourism sector is vital but highly susceptible to global shocks and seasonal fluctuations. The degree is often heavy on theory, while the industry values hands-on experience, personality, and networks. Many top hotel managers worked their way up from entry-level, not directly from a degree.
Graduates often find themselves starting at the same front desk or waiter position as diploma holders, for the same pay, at coastal hotels or lodges in Maasai Mara. The return on investment for the degree is painfully slow.
Gain practical experience through internships and attachments early. Consider specializing in a niche like eco-tourism or event management to stand out.
9. Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
Sociology provides excellent critical thinking skills, but it lacks a defined professional pathway in Kenya. Unlike Psychology or Social Work, there’s no mandatory licensing body, making the degree seem non-vocational to many employers in the development and NGO sector who now prefer specialized M&E or project management experts.
Many sociology graduates end up in general NGO program officer roles, but they compete with people who have degrees in Public Health, Agriculture, or Economics—fields that provide specific technical knowledge for community work.
Combine sociology with statistics, data analysis, or community development to create a more marketable skill set for the research and NGO world.
10. Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science (General)
Environmental awareness is growing, but jobs are not keeping pace. Many roles require very specific expertise in impact assessment, carbon auditing, or environmental law—specializations usually gained at a Master’s level. The general undergraduate degree leaves graduates as jack-of-all-trades in a field that demands experts.
Graduates might find short-term contracts with NEMA on compliance checks or with county clean-up projects, but these are rarely stable or well-paying. The dream job with an international conservation body typically requires further specialization and experience.
Use the degree as a foundation, then immediately pursue a specialized postgraduate course or professional certification in a high-demand niche like environmental engineering or climate policy.
Choosing a Degree That Works for You
The core lesson isn’t to avoid these fields entirely, but to approach them with a clear-eyed strategy for the Kenyan job market. A degree should be an investment that opens doors, not just a certificate that gathers dust.
Before you select a course, research the actual job vacancies on sites like BrighterMonday and Fuzu. Look at the specific skills employers are asking for. Consider pairing a passion with a practical skill—like doing a minor in IT or taking certified online courses in digital marketing or data analysis alongside your main degree.
Your future self will thank you for making an informed choice today, saving you from the frustration of being qualified yet unemployed.
The Bottom Line
The value of a degree in Kenya is not just in the title, but in its ability to connect you to real opportunities. The most important takeaway is to look beyond the university brochure and critically assess a course’s alignment with market demands and your own career strategy. A “useless” degree is often one pursued without a plan for the hustle that comes after graduation.
Use this insight as a starting point for deeper research—talk to professionals in your field of interest, analyze job ads, and choose a path that combines passion with practicality for a sustainable future.
Frequently Asked Questions: Top 10 useless degrees in Kenya
What if I am already studying or have graduated with one of these degrees?
Don’t panic. Your degree is still a valuable achievement that shows discipline. The key is to now add marketable skills on top of it through short courses, certifications, or a strategic postgraduate diploma.
Look for internships and entry-level roles to gain experience, and network aggressively. Many successful people have built careers unrelated to their first degree by skillfully pivoting.
Are some degrees on this list more problematic in certain counties?
Yes, location matters. A degree in Hospitality and Tourism might have slightly more seasonal opportunities in coastal or safari circuit counties, but the core issue of low entry-level pay and high competition remains.
Conversely, a Public Administration degree might be slightly more ‘useful’ in a county with a rapidly expanding government, but these jobs are rarely based on merit alone and are politically volatile.
Does this list apply equally to graduates from all universities?
Not exactly. Graduates from top-tier universities often have stronger alumni networks that can help bypass some barriers. However, the fundamental issue of market saturation for these specific fields affects everyone, regardless of where you studied.
The university name might get your foot in the door for an interview, but it won’t create a job that doesn’t exist in the economy.
Where can I get reliable, current data on which degrees are in demand in Kenya?
Start with the Commission for University Education (CUE) website and reports, which sometimes analyze graduate employment. Also, regularly check the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) economic surveys.
Practically, spend time on job portals like BrighterMonday and Fuzu to see which roles are constantly being advertised and what specific qualifications they require.
Is it ever worth pursuing a passion degree even if it’s on this list?
Absolutely, but do it strategically. If you’re passionate about Theatre Arts or Philosophy, double-major or minor in a more applied field like IT, Business, or Communication. This gives you a practical toolkit to monetize your passion.
Understand that you will likely need to create your own opportunity (become an entrepreneur in your field) rather than wait for a traditional employer to hire you.
