Sakaja announces acquisition of chapati-making machine after Ruto’s promise
By Aloys Michael, October 8, 2025Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja has announced the acquisition of a chapati-making machine after President William Ruto pledged to purchase one capable of making one million chapatis per day.
In an interview with Milele Radio on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Sakaja revealed that the much smaller machine acquired by the county could only produce 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,” Sakaja said.
Sakaja explained that the machine would be used in Nairobi’s Dishi na County programme, aimed at feeding school learners across the county.
Also watch: Kenya’s reaction to Nairobi County’s chapati-making machine.
“If used for five hours a day, say from 6 am to 11 am, it would produce approximately 30,000 to 40,000 chapatis, falling short of the one-million target,” the Nairobi County boss stated.
He also maintained that Ruto would soon fulfil his commitment and help the county acquire a much bigger machine
Ruto’s chapati promise
In March 2025, the Head of State headlines after pledging to donate funds to purchase a machine that could produce one million chapatis daily for schoolchildren in Nairobi.
This followed Sakaja’s request from Ruto to provide the machine in support of his ‘Dishi na County’ school feeding programme.
However, critics viewed the move as unusual for a high-ranking official such as the President, stating that it would not lead to significant development or economic growth.
“Fellow Kenyans compared the initiative to projects in countries like Japan and China, which have brought substantial development to their people, contrasting with Kenya’s focus on less impactful projects,” Ruto said.
This led to Ruto being nicknamed “El Chapo”, with Kenyans creating memes and AI-generated images of millions of chapatis in a factory.
The nickname, seemingly intended to mock the President, was a humorous way for Kenyans to respond to Ruto’s pledge amidst economic hardships and developmental challenges.
Sakaja also faced criticism, with Saboti Member of Parliament Caleb Amisi urging him to prioritise better requests to President Ruto.
Amisi argued that the governor should advocate for major infrastructural projects, such as underground speed trains, overpass roads, and widespread water points.
“A governor of the biggest regional capital city, whose GDP is more or equal to about 15 African countries, boasts of chapatis as his main economic activity and legacy project,” he said.