August 31, 2024, was a milestone in the history of the Bailliage of Nairobi. Their first ever Jenues Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition was held at the Capital Club of East Africa. Protégés, all in their mid-20s, of top Kenyan Executive Chef Professional members of Chaîne recognised establishments were the competitors:
- Elizabeth Gicharu Nyambura, Commis Chef
- Viola Ajwang Ochieng, Commis Chef
- Leon Kang’wara Ndegwa, Demi Chef de partie
- Peter Wachira Mwamba, Demi Chef de partie

The usual rules applied with a mystery basket of ingredients from which to prepare a three-course menu in three and a half hours worthy of a Chaîne event.

The five judges had an unenviable task of scoring each dish using several parameters: flavour, organisation as they were cooking, product utilisation and wastage, creativity, complexity and presentation. Three most recent Baillis Mahul Shah, Ashe Ahluwalia, and Victor Gitobu with Executive Chef Wilcofred Kivungu of Argyle Hotel and Executive Chef Paul Kiamani of The Fairmont Group made up the panel.

Two Executive Chefs, both drivers of this initiative and its technical advisors, were Macharia of Muthaiga Country Club and Caleb of Capital Club.

The event was graced by Bailli Délégué Shabnam Nayer who is a Member of the Conseil Magistral, Nicole Wyn, Bailli of Mombasa, and members of the Bailliage of Nairobi Committee.

Top prize was awarded to Viola Ajwang Ochieng. The Runner-up was Elizabeth Gicharu Nyambura and in Third Place came Peter Wachira Mwamba.

The four chefs will present the best of their dishes at an informal Chaîne lunch at the Capital Club in November. It will also act as a fundraiser to send the overall winner to represent Kenya at the 2025 International Final of the Jeunes Chefs Rôtisseurs Competition by kind courtesy of Brussels Airlines.

At the November event, Viola will be presented with the rotating Chef Eamon Mullan Trophy in memory of this exceptional late chef who did so much to promote culinary arts in Kenya and helped many young Kenyan chefs start and grow their careers globally. It was fitting that his wife, Lesley Mullan, attended the competition to witness this fantastic tribute to her late husband.

Shabnam Nayer
Bailli Délégué
Member of the Conseil Magistral