Kenyan Man Working on UK Farm Challenges Graduates to Rethink Manual Jobs Abroad

A Kenyan finance graduate working as a seasonal farm laborer in the United Kingdom is urging young job seekers to pursue short agricultural courses to qualify for government-backed overseas placements.

Romano Munene, who graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce and Finance, shared a TikTok video from a muddy British field showing the physical demands of harvesting turnips. His post challenges the common perception that overseas farm jobs are reserved for people without higher education, presenting agriculture instead as a direct route to higher earnings and eventual local investment.

Munene pointed out that formal pathways already exist for trained applicants. He cited an agreement between the Kenyan and British governments that allows Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students to access six-month agricultural internships in the UK.

According to Munene, completing short technical courses opens more international job doors than many young Kenyans realize. On the farm where he works, laborers must pick and cut at least eight crates of turnips per hour. Workers earn performance bonuses for every crate harvested beyond that minimum target.

During the clip, Munene also noted that turnips offer numerous health benefits and can be eaten raw in salads. He then used humor to remind relatives back home about the physical effort behind diaspora remittances.

"This is the work we do to get you that KSh 2k you ask for urgently," Munene said.

The video sparked an active discussion among Kenyans online, with several commenters sharing earnings figures, training options, and warnings about recruitment scams.

One viewer, @Bona Tonya, praised the financial returns of the seasonal work, writing, "Hii kazi ni mzuri, 4 million in 6 months."

Another user, @miss mbaabu, confirmed the local training route, saying, "In Kenya school of agriculture we offer the course for six months, and you get an opportunity to go to the UK."

Meanwhile, @pearlKECA encouraged Kenyans to explore agricultural jobs in Canada while cautioning against fraudulent middlemen. "Mkuje sasa Canada kuna kazi na wanaitaji watu but don't use agent mtulize sisi tulifika aje saizi agents wamekua wezi na hawakusaidi," the user wrote.