Bernice Kariuki, born and raised in Nairobi's Eastlands (Jericho) is currently the first team chef for North London-based English Premier League (EPL) side Arsenal FC.
She joins a host of Kenyans who are living the dream and making a name for themselves abroad while and also fulfilling their duties as ambassadors of this great nation.
She was appointed to the role in 2021. She was among the new faces brought in by incumbent Arsenal FC's Spanish Head Coach Mikel Arteta.
File image of Bernice Kariuki. |Photo| Courtesy|
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Kariuki boasts an impressive career in the hospitality industry and prior to her appointment at Arsenal FC, she worked for a number of prestigious hotels in the UK. Some of them include Dorchester Hotel and the Waldorf Hilton Hotel which are both based in London.
"A girl from the ghetto Jericho living nothing but her dreams. May I reintroduce myself as Arsenal's first-team private chef," she said following her appointment.
She is tasked with preparing meals for the first team players at the London Colney training ground.
Kariuki works alongside other distinguished chefs such as Darren Taylor who is Arsenal FC's executive chef. They are mandated with overseeing the players' nutrition as it is an important aspect of the EPL.
“Some of the roles include managing the wellbeing and nutrition of the team on a daily basis both pre and post-match.
“The work also involves designing healthy, nutritious menus before travelling with the team on all home and away matches and cooking exclusively for the players, management, and technical team,” Taylor stated.
Following the changes made by Arteta, a section of players have since spoken out on the importance of their diets, and how it has greatly changed to their benefit.
“I wasn't eating great, I wasn't drinking that well, before games I wasn't really that hydrated but since then I've tried to focus so much on it,” Arsenal attacking midfielder Smith Rowe confessed.
Following Kariuki's appointment as Arsenal chef, leaders and members of the public alike joined in to congratulate her on the achievement.
During a meeting between Kenyans living in the UK and the Kenyan High Commissioner to the UK Manoah Esipisu, the diplomat took to social media to congratulate Kariuki.
"Delighted to bump into Arsenal first-team chef Bernice Kariuki at a black-tie Kenya UK Diaspora event in Windsor, Berkshire. Trailblazing and embodying the Kenyan 'can do' spirit. Congratulations," he stated.
File image of Bernice Kariuki and Ambassador Manoah Esipisu. |Photo| Courtesy|
