Owen Githanga, a Kenyan man living in the USA, has gone viral with his video showing how he packaged about 500 chapatis to carry with him.
He shared the video on his Instagram account named thekenyanamericanhome.
While at the airport, the Kenyan explained that he had traveled to Kenya for the holidays and, on return, buys certain things. “Every time I come back home – Kenya – I always leave with ma chapo. Previously, it has been about 250 chapos, this year I have said let me increase that double that.”
As he wrapped his chapatis with cling film, he added, “This box that is being wrapped over here, is one of the boxes that contained ma chapo. It was wrapped and now you see this is the US, so it was wrapped at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, and now we are entering Denver. You see? So the chapos have made it. This box was in the bag, so they got here safely.”
He showed himself unwrapping the chapatis in his US home. The kitchen counter was covered with chapatis. “I have arrived home, so you see my chapos, they arrived safe and sound, by the way that wrapping ensured this, so as I’m unwrapping, the inside the chapos are also wrapped in the Pembe paper.”
He also explained who made the 500 chapatis for him. “I tried to reach out to Chapati Mistress on TikTok, but she didn’t respond. I think she has many messages. So, I found a mathee and she cooked for me. Akajitolea, akatengenza hizo chapo ka mia tano.”
He unfolded all the food packages to re-wrap the chapatis in Ziploc bags. “The idea behind this is to store the chapatis in the freezer so that we can consume them slowly. He mtu wangu, those chapos were many.”
He had also bought chapatis from a Naivas shop. “So I will also put this in Ziplocs and after that ni kuzi sunda, kwa freezer. So I will be removing them one bag at a time,” he laughed at his love for food. “I love this so much, I enjoy it this way rather than, si ati najua kupika chapo, but kuna vile unga ya home, chapos from back home taste better, compared with chapos from here – USA.”
He told how long it will take him to consume the chapatis. “I am now sorted for the next few months, ei, look at the chapatis mtu wangu. So if you think you can’t carry chapo at the airport, here is proof you can. They were accepted and I have come with them.”
Reactions to his pure joy at carrying chapo included:
Zachy.bee: “Si ujue tu kupika chapo, in Melbourne btw kuna stores zinauza the original flour ya chapo.”
Kiki__delo: “Sasa ati umeingia Colorado, Niko hapo Pia si uniuzie chapo ka kumi ata mimi nifurahi aki 😂”
Dahilngare: “Waaaah hizo zote freezer itatoshea vitu zingine kweli?”
Traditionalfoodskenya: “Ulisahau kupitia Kwa duka yetu kununua dried managu and other traditional vegetables ubebe zote 😂😂😂”
Melsupuu: “Why carry 500 Chapos tho?? If Chapos ain’t fresh, I don’t want them 😢😢”
Jane_ciku: “For the love of chapo yani u had to import the real deal.”
Ruth_msoo_mbugua: “Mimi hubeba sausages ….chapati nitapika 50 in 3hrs🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣”
Amamihecook: “😂😂😂😂 you must love chapati.”
by MAUREEN WARUINGE
