9th-Feb-2026 | 1.7 mins read

Kenya’s Career Days Are Failing Our Learners — It’s Time For A Rethink
Every year, thousands of schools across Kenya host Career Days—events meant to help learners understand the world of work, explore future opportunities, and make informed decisions about their educational paths. But increasingly, these events have drifted far from their intended purpose.

Instead of structured guidance, many Career Days have become entertainment forums featuring pastors, motivational speakers, celebrities, public figures, and “successful” individuals. While there is nothing inherently wrong with inviting these personalities, they are often the wrong voices for the wrong agenda.

Career Day is not a platform for general inspiration. It is a career development intervention that should be grounded in guidance, evidence, and clear learning outcomes. Yet in many schools, the day ends up being a feel-good event with little educational value for the learners who need direction most.

In an era where Kenya has transitioned to Competency Based Education (CBE), this misalignment is not just unfortunate—it is costly. CBE requires learners to understand pathways, tracks, and subject combinations, all of which determine their future training and employment prospects. This demands specialised support from Career Development Practitioners, not unscripted motivation.

A meaningful Career Day must therefore be intentional. It should be led by trained Career Development Practitioners who understand learner development, supported by industry experts who present guided and occupation-specific information. Speakers should use structured templates and follow briefing notes that ensure their messages are factual, relevant, and aligned with national guidance expectations.

Learners deserve more than a few hours of inspiration. They deserve clarity. They deserve accurate information. They deserve a roadmap.

If we continue treating Career Day as entertainment, we risk sending entire cohorts of young people into the future without the tools to navigate it. But if we professionalise these events—bringing in trained experts, industry partners, structured messages, and guided reflection—Career Day can become what it was always meant to be: a powerful turning point in a learner’s life.

It is time to rethink Career Day. Our children’s futures depend on it.