Cooks to bake 2.5 tonne cake for charity event

By Amos Kareithi

Too many cooks, so goes the saying, spoil the broth. But when about 40 bakers meet in Nairobi today, hopefully there will be no mix-up of ingredients.

The city’s most celebrated bakers will put their culinary skills to use to bake a 2,500kg cake for about 3,000 guests expected to turn up at Cake Festival at Splash Water World for a charity event aimed at raising money for Edumed Trust.

The organisation offers scholarship to needy students.

The event co-ordinator, Elizabeth Waichinga, said each cook would bake a portion of the 2,500kg cake, and present it during the event.

"This event is meant to collect money for Edumed Trust which offers scholarship to bright but needy students to give them a fair chance in education," Waichinga explains.

Some of the participants during the function last year. [PHOTO: COURTESY]

She said one of the sponsors, Premier Floor Mills, had donated 1,300kg of wheat flour, which will be given to the bakers participating in the event.

Other corporate firms had contributed ingredients such as cooking chocolate, sugar and cocoa.

Sh519,000 raised

Waichinga also said about 40 bakers had confirmed they would participate in the event.

"Edumed has spent about Sh800, 000 to market the event in supermarkets and churches. A lot of people have confirmed they will participate in the Cake Festival."

Last year, when a similar event was held at the same venue, Sh519, 000 was raised and has been used to sponsor 100 secondary school students this year.

Currently, the organisation is sponsoring 100 secondary school students to the tune of Sh3 million per year, with each beneficiary allocated an average of Sh30, 000.

The trust was started by a philanthropist, Dr Solomon Mwangi, in 1996 and has so far assisted 126 students from poor backgrounds to access secondary school education.

"Edumed relies on donations made by ordinary Kenyans. Some contribute a minimum of Sh100 per month. This is what has kept it alive for the last 15 years," Waichinga added.

Abigail Mwopo, a baker from Exquisite Bakers, who have registered to take part in the festival, said she intends to bake a 50kg cake, which can be served to 1,500 people.

" I am doing it to support a worthy cause and I know the beneficiaries of Edumed scholarship will in the long run benefit the country," she explained.