Ruto Explains Why Some University Graduates are Useless Without "Mjengo"

President William Ruto has explained why some university graduates cannot effectively apply their skills without opportunities in the construction sector, commonly referred to as mjengo.

Speaking at the 19th Ambassadors and High Commissioners Conference in Nairobi on Saturday, March 28, 2026, the President responded to critics who have questioned his government’s emphasis on job creation through the Affordable Housing Programme.

Ruto Explains Role of Construction Sector in Employing University Graduates

Critics have argued that the initiative mainly offers low-paying manual jobs, instead of meaningful employment opportunities for educated youth, including university graduates.

Also Read: Affordable Housing Board Announces Career Opportunities: How to Apply

However, Ruto defended the approach, saying construction sites provide a practical platform for professionals such as engineers, architects, and skilled workers to apply their training.

“If you go to university to learn engineering and architecture, the only place you will make meaning with what you have learnt is mjengo. If there is no mjengo, you are useless,” said the President.

Ruto Defends Use of Construction Sector in Employing Graduates

He maintained that the housing programme is key to creating employment while supporting the growth of relevant professional skills in the country.

Ruto revealed that the programme has already created hundreds of thousands of jobs across different skill levels.

“We have 640,000 young people working as architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, masons and everybody in between,” he said.

Also Read: Ruto Addresses Plans for Affordable Housing Internship Extension and Stipend Increase

The President also addressed criticism directed at the initiative, particularly claims that it prioritises manual labour over professional careers.

“At some point, the debate was that William Ruto is talking about mjengo. Can his children go and work at mjengo?” he posed.

Ruto argued that such criticism overlooks the role of construction sites as essential workplaces for trained professionals.

“Which is the workplace of the architect? And the engineer? And the mason? And the carpenter?” he asked.

He reiterated that for graduates in technical fields such as civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, as well as architecture, construction sites remain the primary environment where their skills can be applied.

Several politicians, mainly from the opposition and some public figures, have criticised President William Ruto over the Affordable Housing Programme, especially claims that it is reducing graduates to “mjengo” (casual construction jobs) instead of creating meaningful employment.

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