Viral Ugali Video Sparks National Debate on Food Safety and School Meal Standards

Nairobi, Kenya – July 14, 2025

A video filmed at a Nairobi school showing cooks using a power drill and a garden spade to prepare and serve ugali has gone viral, triggering a nationwide conversation on food safety, hygiene practices, and the broader state of school feeding programs in Kenya.

The footage, which has been widely circulated across social media platforms, captures one cook using a household power drill fitted with a mixing paddle to stir a large vat of stiff maize porridge—commonly known as ugali—while another uses a garden spade to scoop and serve the portions onto plates for students. While the video has amused some viewers and drawn praise for what many see as an example of resourceful improvisation, it has also provoked widespread concern over hygiene, safety, and regulatory oversight.

Defending their methods, the school cooks explained that the drill was a practical tool for handling the dense mixture required to feed a large student population. They also maintained that the garden spade was strictly reserved for serving purposes, not for stirring or other contact with food in its raw state.

Public Reactions: Ingenuity or Indifference to Safety?

The public response has been deeply divided. On one end, some social media users commended the cooks for their inventiveness under resource-constrained conditions. “This is Kenyan brilliance—solving problems with what’s available,” one user wrote. Others, however, voiced alarm, calling the use of construction tools in food preparation a glaring violation of health standards.

“This isn’t just unorthodox—it’s unsafe,” said Dr. Miriam Kilonzo, a public health expert at Kenyatta University. “Tools not designed for food contact, especially those with industrial grease or residue, pose serious risks of contamination.”

The Ministry of Education has not yet issued an official statement, but the school’s administration has confirmed that it is conducting an internal review. “We take food safety seriously,” a school spokesperson said. “While we appreciate the cooks’ hard work, we are evaluating the situation to ensure our meal preparation meets the highest standards.”

Larger Issues at Play: Funding Gaps and Feeding Program Strain

The incident has brought renewed attention to the structural pressures facing Kenya’s school feeding programs, particularly in public institutions with limited budgets. Many schools struggle with outdated kitchens, understaffed food service personnel, and a lack of basic cooking equipment—despite growing student populations and rising food prices.

Education policy analysts argue that the viral moment reflects deeper systemic neglect. “What we’re witnessing is not just a one-off lapse in hygiene,” said Elias Wafula, a nutrition advocate with the African Centre for School Health. “It’s a glimpse into the daily improvisation that under-resourced schools are forced into just to keep students fed.”

The Kenya National Parents Association has called for an urgent review of school feeding program standards and funding allocations. “Parents need to be assured that what their children are eating is both safe and nutritious,” said Chairperson Nicholas Maiyo. “The government must intervene before improvisation becomes normalization.”

As debate continues online and in policy circles, the video has sparked a wider reckoning about how Kenya supports its schools—not just in classrooms, but in kitchens. For many, the incident is a vivid reminder that behind every plate of ugali is a story of effort, sacrifice, and a desperate need for investment.