Many university students in Kenya walk into their first Computer Science class full of excitement. Friends and family already imagine them as the next Zuckerberg, building billion-shilling apps from a hostel room.

They believe that enrolling in Computer Science is the ultimate pathway to becoming a tech guru. Parents proudly introduce their children with lines like, “This is my son; he’s doing Computer Science. Soon he’ll be the next Bill Gates.”
The truth, however, is more complicated.

As Donald Knuth, one of the pioneers of computer science, once said:

“Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.”

What Knuth meant is that the subject is about principles, problem-solving, and ways of thinking not just writing code. And while theory is important, the reality on the ground is that most universities in Kenya still emphasize it far more than practice.

The result? Too many bright graduates leave campus knowing ten sorting algorithms but unable to build a working website for a business in Nakuru, Kisumu, or Meru.

The University Reality

Kenya has made great strides in technology. From M-Pesa to Silicon Savannah startups, the opportunities are real. But inside many lecture halls, students still find themselves buried in notes about automata, compilers, and data structures, with little exposure to industry tools and real projects.

By the time you graduate, the gap between what you studied and what employers want can feel overwhelming. Employers are no longer impressed by your ability to recite theory; they want to see if you can build, deploy, and maintain real systems.

My Era at Meru University

When I studied Mathematics and Computer Science at Meru University of Science and Technology, I experienced this firsthand. We learned strong foundations—mathematical logic, algorithms, data structures that sharpened our problem-solving skills.

But I quickly realized that theory alone was not enough. Many of my classmates, myself included, could analyze the complexity of an algorithm but struggled to build full applications. The syllabus gave us the foundation, but the real learning happened outside class: late-night coding, personal projects, online tutorials, and trial-and-error.

This is the same challenge most university students in Kenya still face today: the degree opens the door, but you have to walk through it yourself.

Why Some Graduates Struggle While Others Thrive

One of the biggest questions students ask is: “Why do we have graduates who are broke, while someone who never went to university is running a million-shilling business?”

The answer lies in mindset and the application of knowledge:

Graduates Wait for Opportunities, Others Create Them
Many degree holders are trained to look for jobs. Non-graduates often have no choice but to create opportunities for themselves—whether in business, innovation, or hustling.

Degrees Alone Don’t Pay Bills
Employers don’t pay you for having a degree they pay you for solving problems. A graduate who can’t translate knowledge into practical solutions struggles, while a non-graduate with business skills or tech know-how thrives.

Practical Skills vs. Paper Skills
A degree shows you studied; skills show you can deliver. That’s why someone without a degree but with sales, coding, or entrepreneurial skills can outperform a graduate with only theory.

Risk and Resilience
Non-graduates often take risks out of necessity, building businesses or startups. Many graduates, on the other hand, fear failure, waiting for the “safe job” that may never come.

What You Can Do as a Student

Here’s the good news: your success as a university student is not limited to the curriculum. With the right mindset, you can close the gap and prepare yourself for real-world success.

• Start Building Projects Early
  Don’t wait for your final-year project. Build apps, websites, or systems that solve problems around you. Even a small school timetable app is valuable experience.

• Leverage Online Resources and AI
  Platforms like GitHub, YouTube, and AI assistants make learning easier. Use them to practice, debug, and understand concepts beyond the lecture notes.

• Internships and Hackathons
  Join tech events, hackathons, and internships. They teach you teamwork, deadlines, and practical coding skills employers actually want.

• Contribute to Open Source
  Even small contributions show initiative. They also connect you to a global developer community.

• Develop an Entrepreneurial Mindset
  Don’t just think about jobs think about solutions you can turn into businesses. Many Kenyan tech millionaires started by solving small local problems with technology.

Motivation for Every Student

Studying Computer Science is a strong foundation it teaches you how to think, how to solve problems, and how to adapt. But theory alone will not make you a guru. You must take responsibility for your growth.

As Kenyan entrepreneur Eric Kinoti once said:

“Knowledge alone won’t make you successful. It’s what you do with it that counts.”

That’s why some graduates remain poor, while others who never earned a degree become millionaires. The difference is not intelligence it’s initiative, practical skills, and the courage to take action.