In the digital age, social media platforms have provided countless opportunities for talented individuals to shine and make a living doing what they love.
Kenyans are no exception, with many content creators turning to TikTok to showcase their culinary skills and share their love for food with the world.
In this article, WoK explores some of the best TikTok chefs in Kenya who are captivating audiences with their mouthwatering recipes and unique cooking styles.
Dennis Ombachi
Former rugby sevens star Dennis Ombachi is perhaps the most popular Tiktok chef in Kenya.
He is distinctly known for his trademark exclamation Done! at the end of every cooking video.
Ombachi, who goes by the moniker The Roaming Chef on social media platforms, found his passion for food content when he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2018.
After being diagnosed, he distracted himself by watching cooking videos, which inspired him to start creating his own content.
His TikTok account went viral during the Covid Pandemic and has currently amassed over 2 million followers.
Sueh Owino
Popular Tiktoker Sueh Owino won online hearts after her culinary exploits got the internet buzzing.
Owino records herself preparing meals for her husband in all her videos. At one time, she spent a staggering 29 hours preparing a tantalizing meal, which she cooked using traditional methods.
Her videos have gone viral, even making waves on other social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where viewers have called for top kitchen brands to partner with her.
She started cooking as a way to appreciate her husband, whom she says pampers her with lavish gifts.
Holy Dave
Gospel singer Holy Dave has garnered an impressive online following through his impressive culinary skills, amassing over 100,000 followers on TikTok.
Speaking in an interview with Nairobi News, the singer revealed he had always had a passion for cooking and that he started his online culinary journey during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Apparently, Dave discovered his culinary talent by mistake. He wanted content for Instagram, and, wondering what to post, decided to record himself for one and a half hours cooking a chicken.
The video went viral, and he started creating more cooking content.
His culinary skills have attracted the attention of individuals and brands, some of whom have expressed interest in working with him. The self-taught chef was recently crowned the Pulse food influencer of the year.
Simple Yemi
Simple Yemi is a popular Kenyan content creator who shares simplified and tasty recipes on TikTok, where he has garnered a following of over 300,000.
Yemi, who describes himself as a self-taught chef, began his journey during the Covid pandemic, where he would post sumptuous recipes on TikTok. He was inspired by fellow content creator Perimaskitchen, who creates simple and easy-to-follow recipes.
His recipes include homemade samosa, jollof rice, beef wet fry, omena with ugali, and ndengu with chapati, among others.
Chef Raphael
Raphael King’ori, aka Chef Raphael, was always fascinated by how his mother turned simple ingredients into sumptuous meals.
After high school, he signed up at the Utalii College in Nairobi and even interned at the prestigious Carnivore restaurant.
On TikTok, he shares tips on how to prepare sumptuous meals at home. He also shares cooking videos on his YouTube channel, where he has garnered over 260,000 subscribers.
His recipes range from exotics like Korean rice and Kimchi to more common ones like omelets, potato rosti, roast chicken, eggless mandazi, and bhajia.
Sammy Maina
Sammy Maina is another popular TikTok chef. The content creator was initially a water vendor before transitioning to TikTok, where he has amassed over 100,000 followers.
He specializes in local Kenyan cuisine, creating recipes for mukimo, roasted maize, matumbo, and matoke, among others.
Maina’s Sukuma wiki cutting skills have attracted attention and praise from his legion of followers.
In an interview with Mpasho, the father of one explained that he picked the skill from helping his mother cut vegetables while in class six.
He is loved for his simple and easy-to-follow recipes as well as his spotless kitchen.
Chef Wa Eastlando
Chef Wa Eastlando, with over 40,000 followers on TikTok, stands out for his enigmatic persona.
One of his distinguishing features is that he doesn’t show his face on camera, which has added to the intrigue and uniqueness of his content.
He is also distinct because he uses Sheng language as a voice-over for his videos.
His recipes include pilau, biriyani, noodles, banana pancakes, and hotdogs, among others. His biriyani recipe has amassed over 500,000 views.
The content creator has also garnered a significant following on Twitter, and Instagram.
