At 7 a.m. in Nairobi’s CBD, it is not unusual to see men and women calmly drinking this strong beverage while dressed in prohibitively costly suits.
Along Ronald Ngala Street, a few improvised eateries offering the unique porridge have developed into something of a “religion,” with patrons stopping sometimes to rinse their throats with this rare beverage.
The fact that people drink in public contributes to the traditional atmosphere.
Even though the porridge is presented in artificial calabashes. Henry Karanja frequently consumes beverages.
Since 2022, I’ve been consuming Uji Power. “Once you begin, then you never stop,” asserts Karanja, a software firm employee.
Uji Power calabash costs Sh50 when shaken thoroughly.
Many people are becoming more accepting of the drink, according to Mama Muthoni, who works at a place that sells it.
According to Muthoni, the majority of visitors have underlying medical concerns that prevent them from consuming typical beverages like sodas, which are known to be high in sugar.
To make this powerful beverage, a lot of knowledge and materials are required.
“There isn’t a single, well-defined recipe for creating uji. Although various individuals tend to combine things in various ways, the components are essentially the same, according to Muthoni.
Muthoni claims that arrowroot, groundnuts (or peanut butter), milk, sweet potatoes, cassava, pumpkin seed powder, honey or sugar, and milk are some of the main components used in the preparation of Uji.
According to the Nairobi County Smart Survey Report 2020, Nairobi’s food insecurity and risk of a rise in the malnutrition rate have worsened as a result of previous food price increases and protracted drought.
Residents like Karanja think that many working Nairobians have become too preoccupied with their jobs to remember how to eat healthfully.
Many employees of these offices miss lunch because they cannot afford to pay for both a meal and the cost of the bus to take them into town. According to Karanja, some of them come here to consume uji.
Then some bring it to work to eat instead of lunch.
Many people interviewed by Wananchi Reporting said that, despite the cost of living continuing to rise, revenue from economic activities has declined over time, particularly for those living in Nairobi’s unofficial neighbourhoods.
Nairobi County Smart Survey Report 2020 states that the outcome has been a high illness burden, food insecurity, high levels of malnutrition, and high death rates.
Nairobians are nevertheless savouring their potent beverage in the meantime.
