It's not rare to come across people of all ages, both men and women, enjoying 'Uji Power' porridge in various outlets across Nakuru.

The main ingredients of arrowroots, groundnuts, simsim, cassava, pumpkin seeds , honey, sweet potatoes, and milk make the porridge different from that made purely from millet.

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At the Wakulima matatu stage, a few of the stalls have quite a following, with customers frequently stopping by to quench their thirst for this unique drink at any time of day.

The porridge is typically served in coloured artificial calabashes.

Brenda Nalisi, a teacher, has been a regular consumer of Uji Power since 2021.

Brenda Nalisi began taking uji power in 2021.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

"When mainstream hotels were closed during the Covid 19 period, a friend suggested that we come here and try the porridge. I was sceptical at first but I later came to love it,” she explains.

Other than taking her porridge herself, Nalisi ensures she takes the porridge from the stall to her younger sister since she is also an avid fan.

A calabash of Uji Power ranges from Sh 40 to Sh 100, depending on its size.

Salome Njeri, who runs a stall serving this porridge, mentions that many people are embracing it due to its nutritional value, especially those with underlying health conditions that restrict them from consuming sugary drinks like sodas.

Salome Njeri serves one of her customers uji power at her stall near Wakulima market.

Photo credit: MERCY KIHUGU/MTAA WANGU

She notes that she began the business with a start-up fund of Sh 20,000 and has never regretted leaving the second-hand clothes-selling business in 2020.

When asked about the preparation, Njeri explains that there's no one fixed recipe, "Different people prepare it differently, but the core ingredients remain similar."

She notes that she prepares 20 litres of porridge per day from an average of Sh 2,000 worth of ingredients.

Njeri also mentions that they receive delivery orders from offices, especially from those who can't leave for lunch breaks, starting as early as 10:00 a.m.

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"This prompts us to start preparing the porridge as early as 6:00 a.m. Some customers even take Uji Power as a takeaway for their children due to its perceived higher nutritional value compared to regular porridge," Njeri reveals.

The 30-year-old adds that through selling Uji power, she has not only been able to pay school fees for her three children, but also been able to buy a piece of land where she hopes to build a home for her family.

mercykihugu@gmail.com

Have you tried this porridge mix that has taken over Nakuru?

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Mercy Kihugu