Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced that the county has acquired a chapati-making machine to support the Dishi na County school feeding initiative, following President William Ruto’s earlier pledge to fund a high-capacity version capable of producing one million chapatis per day.
Speaking on Milele Radio on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Sakaja confirmed that the newly acquired machine has a smaller capacity, producing 6,000 to 8,000 chapatis per hour.
“President William Ruto’s chapati-making machine is still coming, but we acquired one that can produce 6,000 to 8,000 chapatis per hour,” said Sakaja.
The governor explained that the current machine, if operated for five hours daily, could yield 30,000 to 40,000 chapatis, which will help feed thousands of learners in public schools across the county — though it still falls short of the one-million-per-day target.
The Backstory: Ruto’s “One Million Chapatis” Pledge
In March 2025, President Ruto made headlines after pledging to provide Nairobi County with a machine capable of making one million chapatis daily to boost Sakaja’s feeding programme. While the promise sparked amusement and criticism in equal measure, it underscored the administration’s focus on improving access to school meals.
However, many Kenyans — including opposition politicians — questioned the practicality of the initiative. Critics argued that the focus should instead be on large-scale infrastructure and economic development projects.
Saboti MP Caleb Amisi was among those who voiced concern, saying:
“A governor of the biggest regional capital city, whose GDP rivals that of 15 African countries, should be advocating for major infrastructural projects — not chapatis.”
Public Reaction and Online Humour
The President’s chapati pledge quickly went viral, inspiring memes and jokes online. Many Kenyans nicknamed Ruto “El Chapo”, a playful twist referencing the chapati initiative and reflecting public humour amid ongoing economic challenges.
Despite the criticism, Sakaja defended the move, describing it as a “practical step toward feeding schoolchildren and supporting local food production” while awaiting the larger, presidentially promised machine.
The Dishi na County programme continues to serve thousands of meals daily across Nairobi’s public schools — and with the new machine in place, the county hopes to further expand its reach.
