Nairobi, Feb. 23 -- Barrington Gesimba was overjoyed when he graduated with honours for a Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science from Daystar University on November 10, 2023. The ceremony was a watershed moment in his career and entry into the job market.

However, he has been unable to make any steps forward because he lacks the document he worked for four years to obtain. His degree certificate has been withheld, together with many others, over a debt owed to the university by the government until it is cleared.

"It's difficult to apply for jobs. You can go through all the stages of an interview but when it gets to presenting your certificates, you've got nothing and people think you're hiding something. It's unfair on us," he...