In this era of the internet, Kenyans have had the chance to display a myriad of talents on social media platforms, creating their own niche from dancing, fashion, storytelling and cooking.
In the dynamic world of culinary arts, where creativity knows no bounds, demonstrated by a pan and fire, a group of Kenyan chefs emerged in 2023, capturing the attention of the global online community.
These chefs whipped up beautiful mouthwatering dishes, in front of their cameras creating meals that resonated across the internet.
As such, the online chefs have inspired conversations across pop culture and created a loyal fan base.
The Kenya Times has compiled stories of three Kenyan culinary maestros that shook the internet in 2023.
Most Famous Kenyan Culinary Maestros of 2023
Dennis Ombachi
Dennis Ombachi, otherwise known as the roaming chef, is famous for cooking delicious meals at his balcony, punctuating his videos with the word ‘done!’
However, the Roaming chef was not always a cook, having been more famous in his younger days for his athletics abilities in the rugby field.
During his stint as a rugby player for Kenyan national rugby team, Ombachi scored against Zimbabwe qualifying Kenya for the Rio 2016 Olympics.
In a turn of events, the Kenya Rugby Union terminated his contract, leading him to the rabbit hole of mental health challenges after losing his means of income.
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However, Denis Ombachi recently opened up about his battle with depression, noting that he even contemplated suicide at some point in his life.
The self-made chef stated that cooking was his healing balm.
His former captain and mentor Humphrey Kayange had previously gifted him a DSLR camera, which he set on his balcony and started documenting his meals preparations and cooking.
This earned him millions of followers on social media and recognitions including Africa’s Best Content Creator in TikTok Award in January 2023.
Other Internet Famous Chefs
Sueh Owino
Owino Suzan, popularly known as Sueh Owino has won hearts online after her viral culinary exploits that have shook the internet.
Sueh, whose niche is recording herself preparing meals for her husband, has gone viral multiple times for creating interesting meals, some of them very traditional.
In September, Sueh documented herself marinating meat in a pit dug at her backyard for 29 hours, earning her both praise and backlash. However, undeterred, she proceeded with her culinary exploits stating in an interview that her motivation is to make her husband feel special.
Notably, when Sueh began creating her videos, the majority of her fans were men, and they eagerly shared her content, hoping that their girlfriends or wives would do the same.
Now she boasts of a plethora of fans from both genders who are fascinated by her skills, motivation, traditional methods of cooking and love for her husband.
Holy Dave
David Muthengi, more popularly known by his alias, Holy Dave, is a hip-hop artist with an inclination to gospel music.
However, in recent times, the self-taught chef shot to fame after creating his own niche of cooking videos which were welcomed by eager netizens.
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On his journey, Holy Dave has previously noted that his passion for cooking was ignited by his mother’s encouragement to pursue baking.
Over time, he continued to create content that resonated with his audience, both online and offline.
Notably, he was recently crowned the Pulse Food Influencer of the Year.
“Something that started as a joke the other day during the pandemic is now becoming a source of inspiration and entertainment both online and offline,” Holy Dave remarked, upon receiving the award, displaying his evolution as a chef on the internet.
