Viral Mzungu Selling Mandazi Shuts Down Hotel

Sylvia and her husband Kelvin Bichanga at their home in Kisumu (Undated)
Sylvia and her husband Kelvin Bichanga at their home in Kisumu in November 2021
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Courtesy Sylvia Youtube

28-year-old American Sylvia Bichanga’s pretzels and mandazi business has not been rosy lately. 

Mzungu Pretzels has been selling the snacks in Kisumu town but tough economic times have made her reconsider running hotel. The Kisumu County resident announced that she was shutting down the business as it was generating low income. 

She consequently opted to review her business model and is excited about what the new journey promises. Sylvia, on Sunday, December 19, resorted to hawking mandazis in the street, a venture she had temporarily quit. 

Sylvia Bichanga at her shop in Kisumu where she sells American street food. (Undated)
Sylvia Bichanga at her shop in Kisumu where she sells American street food in November 2021
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“This is my last day at Mzungu PretzelsI’m closing Mzungu Pretzels because it was simply not generating enough income here. But I’m still cooking from my house. That’s not a step down,” clarified the foreigner. 

“I had this little shop and enjoyed it. I got to know the people, learn the local language, but it wasn’t generating enough income compared to hawking in town. I’m excited. Ill be cooking from my house and hawking in town from Tuesday through Saturday,” she added.

Her followers remained skeptical about this move and even alleged that she was a spy agent, attached to US-based Federation Bureau of Investigations (FBI). 

You guys got me laughing in the comments though. You were like, the FBI officer has done her work and is now going back home,” she chuckled sarcastically in a video posted on her platforms as she went on stirring flour.

“I have always wanted to be something exciting like a Central Investigation Agency (CIA) or FBI but unfortunately I’m not that exciting.”

“I wish I was a spy, but I’m not that exciting. And if I indeed was a spy, then I’m not doing a good job always being in the news. Intelligence officers alwasy avoid being in the spotlight,” she clarified.

Married to a Kenyan - Kelvin Bichanga - Sylvia has always been determined to continue making ends meet by supplementing her husband’s earnings.

Sylvia started the pretzels and mandazi business after tying the knot. The venture, she stated, was suggested by a Kenyan friend who later became her business partner.

After a few days of hawking their products on the streets of the Kisumu City, she and her business partner made enough money to open the shop, which she was eventually forced to close. 

Reports allege that the husband landed a job as a taxi driver in the city. 

Sylvia and her husband Kelvin Bichanga at their home in Kisumu (Undated)
Sylvia and her husband Kelvin Bichanga at their home in Kisumu in November 2021
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Sylvia Bichanga Facebook