Setting Cybersecurity Talent Up for Success: Guiding Young Professionals in Kenya with Cyber Shujaa's Placement Officers

Setting Cybersecurity Talent Up for Success: Guiding Young Professionals in Kenya with Cyber Shujaa’s Placement Officers

Over the past decade, Kenya has emerged as a regional hub for technology and innovation, attracting both established companies and start-ups. This growth has been matched by a favourable political and business environment, leading to increased job opportunities across various sectors such as Information Communication and Technology (ICT), trade, agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics. Such a surge in job demand has created an excellent environment to absorb Kenya’s youthful and increasingly tech-savvy population. Indeed, despite urban-rural disparities, technological literacy among Kenyan youth has significantly improved, with more young people enrolling in ICT programs and focusing on their digital skills. However, with such a rapid sector expansion, a gap between academic knowledge and the hands-on experience required by employers has formed.

By offering ICT and cybersecurity training to young graduates, this youth–focused capacity development and incubation programme delivered by Serianu Limited in a consortium, with the support of CFYE, identified this issue and is making significant strides in bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements. They support young talents entering the job market by strengthening not only their practical, but also their soft skills.

Cyber Shujaa recognised that the lack of both hard and soft skills, such as effective communication, interview preparation, and CV crafting was limiting young professionals’ ability to secure roles. Their solution? Having placement officers, or employment advisors, play a crucial role in keeping graduates motivated, while facing the challenges of landing their first job.

Perseverance cannot be taught but having someone guide you through the hurdles is definitely a game-changer. Jane Akoth, another placement officer from Cyber Shujaa, mentioned one great example: “One gentleman faced over 500 rejections but kept applying because he believed someone out there would recognise his potential. That’s the spirit we aim to cultivate.”

“Young ICT graduates come out with great knowledge, but companies still feel they lack the hard and practical skills to do the job,” explains Monica Kanyutu, a placement officer at Cyber Shujaa.

From theory to practice: Martin’s journey from ITC graduate to skilled professional

Martin Otiende Juma, a 25-year-old ICT graduate, is a prime example of how Cyber Shujaa transforms perspectives. Before joining the program, Martin struggled with the practical application of his university education. “At university, I was learning a lot, but it was all theoretical. Cyber Shujaa gave me in-depth knowledge and practical skills I didn’t have before,” he shared. The program challenged Martin with tools like “Hack the Box” and report writing exercises, pushing him out of his comfort zone. Initially, he doubted he could complete the course, but the extra push and constant support from trainers and peers made him persevere. It was not just about hard skills; thanks to the soft skills module and the help of placement officers like Monica, he was also able to present this new set of capabilities to employers confidently.

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Stella Nderitu’s Journey

For some, Cyber Shujaa has been an inspiration for entrepreneurship. Stella Nderitu, a computer science graduate, discovered her passion for cybersecurity during the program.

“The program opened my eyes to aspects of cybersecurity I thought I knew but didn’t” Stella shares.

Through Cyber Shujaa’s entrepreneurship path, she gained critical skills in business planning, financial management, and client engagement. Now working as a security engineer, Stella aspires to establish her consultancy firm and attract big clients.

Brenda Kamangara’s Bold Career Change

Brenda Kamangara’s story is a remarkable example of how a bold career change can lead to unexpected and fulfilling opportunities. Originally an international relations graduate, Brenda found herself drawn to the intersection of cybersecurity and international conflict. At 30, with no IT background, she took advice from mentors, followed her instinct and joined the Cyber Shujaa program.

Audacity is key, says Brenda as she reflected on her journey. Her perseverance and passion for cybersecurity guided her through the program, where she not only gained technical skills but also built a supportive network of mentors, peers and former graduates. This network continues to be a cornerstone of her career and supports her now that she has started her career at Serianu.

Brenda’s advice to those considering a career change is to be courageous and take bold risks, emphasizing that the industry is wide and full of innovation.

These stories show the diversity of possible life and career paths after the programme. This is when the importance of focusing on the “human side” of things becomes crucial. The market does not simply absorb new graduates, young job seekers have to know what they are looking for, identify what they can offer to employers, and be able to highlight their strengths, both practical and human. The role of Placement Officers is a guide to focus on exactly this: to ensure that the human side of things is never lost and that each graduate knows what makes them special.

The roles of people like Monica W. Kanyutu and Jane Akoth include sourcing job opportunities, reviewing CVs, conducting mock interviews, and offering motivational support to graduates. But it goes beyond that.

Our job is to help graduates cross the bridge from skills to employment

Monica explains that by connecting alumni with job opportunities, they address the common challenge of inexperience among fresh graduates. She stresses the importance of perseverance, noting that there will be no one to help them progress if they are not the first ones to make a effort. She encourages continuous effort and application until success is achieved, emphasizing that their support is there to ensure individuals take the initiative to keep moving forward.

Jane emphasizes the importance of resilience:

Some things are just a matter of time and effort. Our role is about supporting youth in keeping the momentum and believing in themselves despite the difficulties of a competitive job market.

A Program That Stands Out

Cyber Shujaa’s unique combination of technical training, soft skills development, and mentorship has been transformative for its participants. Brenda highlights the alumni community as one of the program’s greatest strengths, with graduates continuing to support each other, share job opportunities, and celebrate each other’s successes.

For Martin, the standout feature was the program’s structured approach. He found that although it wasn’t easy, the challenges helped him grow gradually and steadily. By the end, he felt confident in his skills and more aware of how to present them.

Looking Ahead: Cybersecurity in Kenya

As Kenya continues to strengthen its digital infrastructure, the demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals will only grow. Cyber Shujaa is playing a critical role in preparing the next generation of experts to meet this demand from a practical and human angle.

Brenda encourages participants to be bold and keep pushing, emphasizing that the industry is wide and there’s space for everyone willing to take risks and learn. Monica echoes this sentiment, advising participants to keep applying, keep learning, and never give up.

Cyber Shujaa continues to demonstrate that with the right skills, support, and determination, young Kenyans can navigate these new waves and make a lasting impact in the cybersecurity sector.