French President Emmanuel Macron traded summit halls for an outdoor cooking station in Nairobi after joining Kenyan celebrity chef Dennis Ombachi for a relaxed culinary session that quickly drew attention online.The informal cookout took place during Macron’s visit to Kenya for the Africa Forward Summit, where more than 30 African leaders gathered to discuss trade, innovation and partnerships between Africa and France.Videos shared online showed Macron and Ombachi preparing ugali and sukuma wiki in an open-air kitchen at night.The French leader briefly stirred the ugali before Ombachi guided him through the preparation of the traditional Kenyan vegetables.Spotlight on Kenyan cultureThe cooking session formed part of a wider effort by Macron to engage with Kenyan culture during his stay in the country.Before the summit officially opened, Macron held a private dinner attended by a select group of Kenyan creatives, including Ombachi and musician Bien-Aimé Baraza.He also joined marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge for a morning jog through Nairobi streets.The French president’s visit comes as Paris attempts to reshape its relationship with African nations following years of declining influence in parts of West Africa.Kenya became the first English-speaking African nation to host the summit in more than five decades.
Ombachi’s growing influence
For Ombachi, the appearance alongside Macron marked another major moment in his growing profile as one of Kenya’s best-known food creators.
The former Kenya Sevens rugby player reinvented himself as “The Roaming Chef” after injuries disrupted his sporting career.
He built a large online audience through balcony cooking videos shared on social media during the COVID-19 period.
In 2022, he won TikTok’s Top Creator award in Sub-Saharan Africa and later joined the platform’s Change Makers programme.
The Nairobi cookout with Macron blended diplomacy with food, giving viewers a rare image of a world leader stepping away from official speeches to share a Kenyan meal.
