A viral post on X has Kenyans talking after unusual photos showed guests dining beside a long trench converted into an outdoor table.
The images, shared by Nelson Amenya, captured plates, glasses, and décor neatly arranged inside a shallow dug-out space stretching across a lush garden.
Amenya captioned the post, “Sustainable dining in Nairobi. Wakenya ni menace walahi,” sparking a flurry of comments.
Within hours, the post racked up thousands of reactions, jokes, and hot takes.
Many poked fun at the concept, likening it to an “elite mjengo lunch date.”
One user quipped, “Paying premium for a ‘norm’ mjengo is nasty business. Wakuje tu site tuchimbe tu foundation.”
Another joked, “I’d love to see the menu prices. The guy in the navy blue top is reevaluating his life choices.”
But beyond the laughter, some saw creativity and global inspiration.
Unconventional dining setups aren’t entirely new.
In New York, Treiber Farms hosted “Farm Is Table,” where guests literally dined in the earth.
Thirty inches underground, surrounded by wildflowers and grasses, diners were served farm-sourced dishes on repurposed tools turned into serving platters.
The immersive experience, crafted by Chef Caroline Hahm and artist Peter Treiber Jr., redefined the farm-to-table concept.
The Nairobi trench dining setup, whether a bold artistic choice, a sustainability experiment, or inventive event styling, echoes that same reimagining of how food and place can interact.
It challenges the notion that memorable dining must happen in fancy venues, instead making the land itself part of the experience.
Some Kenyans noted that with the country’s scenic farms, vibrant gardens, and rich food culture, Kenya offers the perfect canvas for such imaginative setups.
Dining on fresh, local produce right beside the soil that grew it blends authenticity, nature, and storytelling in one unusual meal.