Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino has criticized Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s recent request to President William Ruto for a chapati-making machine capable of producing 1 million chapatis daily.
In a statement shared on his social media accounts on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, Babu pointed out that while Sakaja focused on acquiring a chapati-making machine, there are more pressing issues in Nairobi that urgently need attention.
He argued that this request reflects misplaced priorities, especially in light of the severe challenges Nairobians continue to face.
“Of all the things that are disturbing Nairobians, Sakaja asked for a chapati printing machine from the President to print 1 million chapos in a day. He couldn’t see that there is no proper drainage and there are poor roads,” Babu Owino said.
“He couldn’t see that the Health sector in Nairobi is unhealthy, he couldn’t see that there’s no sufficient supply of water, he couldn’t see that there are no jobs for the youth, men and women in Nairobi. Maajabu ya musa.”
Emphasizing the potential negative impact on small businesses, the vocal MP argued that the machine would deprive many women who depend on the chapati business in Nairobi of their livelihoods.
“How will Mama Chapati survive if her job is given to a machine,” he added.
Sakaja’s request
Speaking at St Teresa Primary School in Mathare on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Sakaja noted that it would be challenging to prepare chapatis for over 300,000 pupils across the city.
He thus implored the head of state to provide a chapati-making machine.
“Watoto wangu mnapatanga ndizi kila siku? (My children, do you get bananas every day)” Sakaja asked to which the students enthusiastically replied, saying, “Yes.”
“Niongeze nini? (What should I add?)” Sakaja continued, to which the pupils replied saying; “Chapati.”
“Mnajua hio chapati… watoto 300,000 wanalishwa Nairobi, ntaomba rais anisaidie na machine ya kutengeza chapo,” Sakaja added.
Ruto immediately vowed to honour Sakaja’s request, noting that he will ensure that the program receives a chapati-making machine, which he says will produce 1 million chapatis daily, once he is aware of where to purchase them.
“Governor ameniuliza ya kwamba tuongeze chapati katika dishi ya Nairobi na ninunue machine ya kutengeza chapo, na nimekubali kua nitamnunulia machine ya kutengeza chapo, sasa gavana tafuta mahali pa kununua machine ya kutengeza chapo milioni moja, (The governor has asked that we add chapati in the Dishi ya Nairobi initiative, I have agreed to purchase the machine, it is now the work of the governor to locate a shop we can purchase them from, do that we can be able to make one million chapatis)” Ruto said amid cheers from the pupils.
