In April 2023, Dorcas Wanjiru departed from Kenya and settled in Toronto, Canada, with aspirations of securing employment in apple picking.
However, her entrepreneurial instincts soon emerged, leading her to launch a chapati business within the city.
During an interview, Wanjiru recounted how her culinary journey began in her welcoming hotel, where she prepared chapatis that captivated the interest of the local community.
She observed that it was not long before she began receiving requests from individuals eager to purchase her delicious chapatis.
A significant advantage she possessed was her open work permit, which allowed her to work at two different hotels each day, earning Ksh 5,900 per hour.
Wanjiru is confident that her skill in chapati preparation is generating considerable momentum thanks to their soft and flaky texture.
She noted that the fact that chapatis can be served as a versatile side dish to numerous meals has endeared her to the local populace.
Wanjiru attributes her success to her commitment to ensuring that each chapati closely resembles the authentic Kenyan version, despite the vast distance from her homeland.
This endeavor has not only enabled her to share a piece of Kenya with Canada but has also provided her with a reliable source of income.
In a similar story, Doline Nyambati, a Kenyan entrepreneur, relocated to the United States with aspirations of working in nursing.
However, after a brief stint in caregiving, she pivoted to the food industry, launching her business, Authentic African Dishes, in November 2023.
Nyambati identified a gap in the market for quick and authentic African meals, particularly chapatis and samosas, catering to busy individuals who lack time to cook.
Initially, she began selling her products to friends and community members, leveraging social media for broader outreach.
Her business quickly gained traction, allowing her to ship chapatis across the U.S., Canada, and the UK. A pack of 20 chapatis retails for approximately $60 (Ksh 8,100), while similar quantities of samosas are priced at $50 (Ksh 6,662).
Despite facing challenges such as sourcing authentic ingredients and educating non-African customers about her offerings, Nyambati’s venture has proven lucrative.