A Kenyan man has gone viral for his ingenious decision to pack and ship 500 chapatis to the US after the December holidays concluded. Owen Githanga’s video documenting the journey has since gone viral among the diaspora community who admired his ambition.
Previously, Githanga had managed to transport 250 chapatis to America. Despite the move being one to raise eyebrows, he explained that the decision was driven by his resolution to bring with him a taste of Kenyan food to the US.
He freezes the chapatis to eat them while abroad. Githanga also noted the stark contrast in chapatis made back in Kenya and those made in the US.
He said that it was possible to buy all the ingredients necessary to cook chapatis in US, but they never quite taste the same as Kenyan-made ones.
“If you live in Kenya, it’s hard to understand why I carried 500 chapatis. Chapatis are abundant in Kenya; you can literally find them anywhere, unlike in the US. Many stores sell wheat flour here, but it does not taste the same way,” he said.
Owen Githanga further reiterated that the cost of chapatis in Kenya is very affordable, compared to the US where he’d have to fork out hundreds of dollars to get the same 500 chapatis.
To facilitate the transport, Owen packed some of the foodstuffs inside a carry-on bag, while the others were wrapped inside boxes at JKIA and shipped through customs.
He explained that non-perishable cargo such as chapatis is allowed through US customs; however, one should verify the food import regulations before undertaking similar endeavours.
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A spot check by Bizna Kenya revealed that there are several food items that the US Customs and Border Protection prohibits. They include:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables – Due to the potential for introducing plant pests and diseases. There are some exceptions for certain canned or dried products
- Meat, Poultry and its products – This is due to the risk of animal diseases
- Dairy products – They include milk, cheese and yoghurt. Restricted due to the risk of animal diseases.
- Plants and seeds – Plants, seeds and other pant products used for planting are prohibited to prevent the introduction of invasive plant species in America.
Kenyans have shared similar stories to Owen’s where they have carried traditional foods abroad so that they can stay connected to their roots.
