NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto has once again found himself at the center of online mockery following his recent promise to procure a machine capable of producing one million chapatis per day to feed schoolchildren.
Speaking during an event in Nairobi, where he was accompanied by Governor Johnson Sakaja, the Head of State pledged to address food insecurity in schools through what many now call an “ambitious” initiative.
However, his announcement has sparked an avalanche of criticism and satire, with Kenyans on social media questioning his priorities amid pressing national challenges.
On X (formerly Twitter), users reacted with a barrage of memes, some depicting a man floating on a chapati down a flooded Nairobi street—a jab at the government’s perceived failure to address the ongoing flooding crisis.
Others shared edited images of a fictional, high-tech chapati production line, humorously exaggerating the scale of the President’s promise.
Aki Kenyans!!!! 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂
Critics argue that while feeding schoolchildren is a worthy cause, the government should be focusing on more urgent matters such as the worsening economic crisis, high taxation, and the ongoing doctors’ strike.
“Children need food, yes. But hospitals need doctors, businesses need relief from taxes, and Kenyans need working infrastructure. Is a chapati machine the most pressing priority?” posed one social media user.
The promise adds to a growing list of ambitious pledges by the Kenya Kwanza administration, some of which remain unfulfilled.
It’s rainy season and instead of working on drainage system, They are talking about chapati. Black people with black hearts. #RailaRutoMustGo
While the government has championed initiatives such as the digital superhighway and affordable housing projects, critics point to slow progress and unaddressed economic hardships facing Kenyans.
It remains to be seen whether the one-million-chapati machine will become a reality or if it will join the ranks of other grand government pronouncements that never materialized.
In the meantime, Kenyans online continue to turn the debate into satire, with memes and witty remarks flooding social media platforms.
