This article is an opinion piece that was written in collaboration with the Travel Committee. Its contents represent the standpoint of the authors and not UPF Lund or The Perspective’s editorial board. Additionally, all uncited claims and photos were taken from UPF’s trip to Kenya.
Kenya is often cited as one of the fastest-growing economies in the African region, with a population of approximately 52 million, yet around 40% of the population is estimated to be living below the poverty line. During UPF’s visit to Nairobi in April, poverty was one of the biggest issues discussed and explored. In the vibrant city of Nairobi, people moved towards the constant traffic jams to sell everything from nuts to lamps. Additionally, many children put their faces against the windshields to beg for money, vividly showcasing the lengths that people are willing to go to for extra money.
One of UPF’s visits in Kenya was to the University of Nairobi — a beautiful campus with a big garden reminiscent of the greenery outside Lund University’s library. Although Kenyan residents typically fund their own university education, a university degree is not a guarantee for employment. During our trip we met a man called Branston (name changed for confidentiality). He ran a small shop in the Toi market, selling second-hand clothing carefully selected to appeal to Swedish youth —a niche market shaped by the nearby Swedish school in Nairobi. Despite holding a three-year engineering degree, Branston struggled to find work in his field and instead turned to the informal sector.
African countries face a major shortage of engineers, especially in sectors like water and sanitation, yet many engineering graduates remain unemployed. This paradox arises from a mismatch between graduates’ skills and job market needs, particularly in non-technical “employable skills” like communication and project management. As a result, many like Branston seek alternative livelihoods.
In Kenya, where approximately 4 in 10 young people with a university degree were unemployed in 2018, this experience is not unique. This economic pressure is exacerbated by Kenya’s growing debt crisis, which the government attempts to manage through steep taxes that disproportionately affect low-income citizens. Although 83% of the labor force works in the informal sector — like Branston — they still face indirect taxes on goods and services, whereas many wealthier individuals and corporations often escape taxation. This imbalance deepens inequality and undermines faith in institutions, making formal employment and entrepreneurship even harder for young people to pursue.
During UPF’s visit to the Swedish Embassy in Nairobi, we met an official who emphasized that Sweden has made substantial efforts to address the issue of unemployment of educated individuals in Kenya, particularly by providing scholarships and opportunities for studies at Swedish universities. These initiatives, they noted, are seen as part of Sweden’s broader investment in Kenya’s long-term development and human capital, while also serving Sweden’s own national interests. By attracting talented Kenyan students, Sweden not only strengthens its academic environment but also addresses domestic labor market needs, aiming to retain these highly skilled individuals after graduation.
The embassy official acknowledged that much of their work involves making Sweden as attractive as possible for international students to stay, including Kenyan graduates, whose qualifications and global perspectives are highly valued in Sweden’s increasingly internationalized labor market.
However, this strategy raises important questions. Many of these students, who could play vital roles in Kenya’s own development, are most needed back home, yet they often remain abroad, motivated by better employment prospects, higher salaries, and more stable career paths in Sweden. Meanwhile, structural unemployment and limited opportunities in Kenya, even for highly educated individuals, make returning a far less attractive option.
While Swedish initiatives can be framed as foreign aid, they also reflect a broader trend of talent attraction from the Global South to the Global North. By prioritizing outward scholarships without fostering reciprocal academic exchanges, donor countries such as Sweden risk reinforcing a single-tracked model of cooperation when it comes to education. Kenyan universities can offer valuable perspectives on innovation under constraint, entrepreneurship in emerging markets, and resilience in volatile environments — lessons that are increasingly crucial for students to understand in a rapidly changing world.
The official at the embassy additionally discussed Swedish companies’ role in the East African region, and emphasized Swedish companies’ increased investments in the East African market, with a strong presence in Kenya. Around 50 Swedish-related firms, such as Ericsson, Volvo, and Tetra Pak, are based in Nairobi. This growing commercial interest is supported by institutions like Swedfund and facilitated by Sweden’s long standing diplomatic relations with Kenya, dating back to their independence in 1963. The Swedish Embassy and Business Sweden play a key role in assisting Swedish businesses and promoting responsible investment through a coordinated corporate social responsibility (CSR) framework. While corruption remains a concern, Kenya’s improving business climate, strong financial sector, and integration into the East African Common Market offer promising opportunities for expanded trade and sustainable economic cooperation.
To foster a more reciprocal and development-oriented partnership, Swedish companies operating in Kenya could offer internships, research collaborations, and clear career pathways for Kenyan graduates returning from studies in Sweden. Academic exchange programs should move beyond individual scholarships to include faculty mobility, joint research initiatives, and institutional capacity-building efforts that strengthen Kenyan universities. Additionally, CSR frameworks coordinated by Business Sweden could incorporate measures that incentivize return migration — such as professional reintegration programs and co-financed entrepreneurial ventures, to ensure that the skills and experiences gained abroad contribute meaningfully to Kenya’s development.
The case of Nairobi’s educated yet underemployed youth is a sobering reminder that education alone is not enough. Without parallel investments in job creation, private sector development, and institutional reform, degrees risk becoming promises unfulfilled. In a world where the global South is poised to play an ever-larger role, mutual learning — not just aid — should guide international cooperation.
The irony in Kenya’s situation is striking: while Sweden actively recruits Kenya’s top students through scholarships and makes little effort to encourage their return, Kenya struggles to provide employment for its own educated citizens — even local entrepreneurs like Branston. At the Swedish school in Nairobi — a boarding institution with tuition fees ranging from 106,000 to 122,000 SEK per year— students live on a campus equipped with pools and tennis courts. Meanwhile, highly educated local workers like Branston make a living selling second-hand clothes curated to suit the taste of these students. While Sweden actively recruits talented Kenyan students through scholarships and retention strategies, Kenya faces youth unemployment rates nearing 25% and a heavy tax burden driven by national debt. Although Sweden gains from attracting skilled labor, it offers little in return — sending few students to Kenya and showing limited interest in a reciprocal educational exchange. In this asymmetrical model, cooperation risks becoming extractive, privileging Northern interests while Southern potential remains underutilized at home. For international cooperation to be more equitable, it must go beyond talent attraction and aid and move toward mutual exchange, shared responsibility, and support for sustainable futures on both sides.
Kenya’s diverse landscapes, cultures, and communities reflect a rich social fabric marked by both tradition and transformation. From Maasai herders who we met in Amboseli, to the women lifted from poverty working at the Kazuri Beads factory outside of the city center of Nairobi, Kenyans continue to find ways to adapt and lead in the face of climate change, economic volatility, and political uncertainty. The country’s civil society remains vibrant, as universities are centers of critical thought and research, and its cultural and artistic expressions speak to a people deeply engaged with questions of identity, justice, and future possibility.
Large herd of elephants grazing in Amboseli National Park, unbothered by us spectators.
One of UPF’s participants conversing with a local Masai villager in Amboseli.
In this complex landscape Kenya stands at a crossroads, where challenges are matched by untapped potential. Despite the poverty and structural inequalities that persist, the country is home to a vibrant, young, and dynamic population eager to contribute to both their local communities and the broader global economy. It is in this environment—where challenges fuel innovation—that the true potential for partnership lies. For international cooperation to be truly transformative, it must go beyond charity and towards an exchange of ideas, skills, and resources that strengthen both sides. Sweden, with its resources and expertise, has the opportunity to invest not only in Kenya’s infrastructure and economy but also in its people. Through more reciprocal partnerships, shared responsibility, and a commitment to mutual learning, Kenya’s story of overcoming adversity can become a model of growth, not just for East Africa, but for the world.
By Clara Bergqvist & Ebba Johansson
June 3, 2025
