Comedian Blessed Njugush has humorously criticized several traditional Kenyan dishes, claiming that some are not as tasty as people claim. Taking the December Festive challenge to new heights, Njugush pointed out meals that are beloved by different communities but argued they fall short in flavor.
He specifically targeted Mursik, the fermented milk popular among the Kalenjin. Njugush boldly stated that Mursik is not sweet, questioning how it’s prepared. “Let’s be honest about Mursik. It’s not tasty. You drink it and then wonder about your intestines. It tastes bad. It’s not sweet. You put charcoal in milk to ferment it, and you drink it? What’s going on?” Njugush remarked, calling out the Swahili for their “fake” praise of the Mbaazi dish.
Njugush also mocked Mbaazi, a meal made from pigeon peas commonly enjoyed by the Swahili people on the Kenya Coast, claiming it’s not sweet either. He suggested that the Swahili only know how to make fried fish well. “People from Mombasa, Mbaazi isn’t sweet. You pretend it’s delicious, but it’s not. Mahamri is just a donut with cardamom, and cardamom belongs in tea. Why repeat the ingredients? That’s not tasty. You split the donut and put beans inside, why not just grab a paper bag and suck it up?” he quipped.
He continued, stating, “Let’s agree and speak the truth. Mahamri is just a donut, and Mbaazi isn’t tasty. People from Mombasa, the only thing you make right is fried fish, and it’s something we from the mountains haven’t figured out how to cook with Minjii.”
Njugush didn’t stop there; he also turned his attention to the Abagusii community, joking about their elaborate breakfast routines. “Kisii, you’re not normal. You eat a huge breakfast with brown ugali, white ugali, saga, and everything else. It’s like a festival. If you don’t want lunch, just say so. Are you going to war? Where do you put all that energy?”
Despite his humorous criticisms, Njugush praised the Kikuyu people for their culinary talents, particularly their diverse and flavorful meals. “People from the mountains are alright. Have you ever eaten Njahe with watermelon on top, bananas, chapati, Minji, and then a side of mokimo and more Njahe? You really know how to make a meal. You guys are alright,” he complimented.
Lastly, Njugush poked fun at the Kamba community for hyping up mangoes that never seem to reach others. “Kamba people, we’re talking about food, not mangoes. You always hype up mangoes, but we never get to taste them. How many Kamba friends do we have, and they never send us mangoes? Mangoes are just a name,” he joked.
His playful comments sparked laughter, highlighting the diversity of Kenyan cuisine and the lighthearted rivalries between different communities over food.
