After years of tarmacking with his two diplomas, Jamleck Murimi has risen to become the founder and CEO of Beyond Murimi Fashions Outfitters, employing other young people and encouraging graduates not to give up in the face of repeated job rejection.
Murimi shared his journey during the launch of the NEXT GEN.KE programme at State House on July 24, where he recounted the struggles that followed his graduation
Before becoming the CEO of Beyond Murimi Fashions Outfitters, Jamleck Murimi built his academic foundation at Meru National Polytechnic, where he studied between 2018 and 2021.
He graduated with Distinction One and was actively involved in the environmental club, volleyball, debate, and journalism.
He would later pursue studies in Fashion Design and Clothing Technology before furthering his training in Technical Trainers Education.
Speaking at the State House event, Murimi said he completed two diplomas in Fashion Design and Technical Trainers Education with good grades, hoping they would open doors to employment. Instead, he joined thousands of Kenyan graduates in the long search for work.
Despite his academic qualifications, he struggled to secure a job, spending years tarmacking and attending interview after interview.
Jamleck said recruiters often praised his performance but ultimately declined to hire him because he lacked work experience.
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“I almost heard from all the recruiters that you are very brilliant. We can see your grades are so good, but you have no experience,” he said.
The repeated rejection left him wondering how young graduates were expected to gain experience if no employer was willing to offer them an opportunity.
Rather than giving up, Jamleck Murimi remained determined to succeed, continuing to apply for every opportunity that came his way while drawing strength from his Christian faith.
He said reading the Bible encouraged him to remain hopeful and keep pursuing his goals despite the setbacks.
“I kept pushing every now and then. I kept my spirit high. I applied for every opportunity that came in,” he said.
The Internship That Changed Everything
Murimi’s breakthrough came when he successfully applied for the TVET internship programme implemented through a partnership involving the Ministry of Education, the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and development partners.
After years of unsuccessful interviews, he described receiving the internship as the opportunity he had been waiting for.
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“I took it as a real opportunity because I had failed in other interviews which I had attended earlier,” he said.
According to Murimi, the programme went beyond offering workplace experience.
The mentorship, work-readiness training and practical skills he gained during the internship gave him the confidence to pursue entrepreneurship instead of waiting for formal employment.
“As we stand today, I’m the CEO of Beyond Murimi Fashions. This is because of mentorships and work readiness trainings offered during my internship,” he said.
From Job Seeker to Job Creator
Rather than allowing his lack of employment to define him, Jamleck Murimi used the experience to build Beyond Murimi Fashions Outfitters, a business that creates fashion outfits, portraits, and eco-friendly products.
Today, the company employs other young people, allowing him to give others the opportunity he once struggled to find.
“Because I was not employed, I was given an internship. I can employ a youth. Funny enough, I have employed youth in my business,” he said.
He urged young Kenyans to take internships seriously, describing them as stepping stones that can open doors to careers and entrepreneurship.
“If you are given this opportunity as a youth, take it as a real opportunity. Take it as one on your own to build your future. It comes once. Use it with a lot of discipline,” he said.
Murimi also thanked the government, development partners and the private sector for supporting youth employment initiatives through partnerships that equip graduates with practical skills and workplace experience.
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