Grace Chao leans over trays of freshly baked golden brown buns, inspecting them carefully. Satisfied, she moves on to the snacks, checks the tea urns, inspects the cutlery, then pauses briefly to exchange a few quiet words with her staff.
“I have to ensure everything is in order,” she says softly before disappearing into the kitchen.
We are at the Menengai Base Camp, home to drilling staff working at the geothermal rigs. It is Grace’s duty to ensure meals are served on time, prepared to high standards, and delivered in a clean and welcoming environment. Yet her responsibilities stretch far beyond Menengai. She also coordinates catering operations at the Paka Camp within the Baringo-Silali Geothermal Project, where GDC operates.
On this chilly April morning, however, Grace is preparing for a different kind of guest. A delegation of dignitaries visiting the project has stopped by for a mid-morning tea break.
“Apart from staff, we also host many visitors at our mess,” she explains. “We have served ambassadors, Cabinet Secretaries, Members of Parliament, CEOs -name them.”
Soft-spoken and modest, Grace could easily pass unnoticed among the staff. Standing at about five feet, the light-skinned hospitality officer carries herself quietly, almost shyly. Yet behind that calm demeanour lies a woman whose work directly supports one of Kenya’s most critical geothermal operations.
In a drilling environment where teams work long hours under intense conditions, food and hospitality become more than routine services – they become a source of morale, comfort, and care.
“My work is about caring for people,” she says gently. “Over the years, I have come to see every meal served as an opportunity to make someone’s day a little better.”
And over the years, Grace and her team have served tens of thousands of meals to the men and women at GDC working day and night to deliver geothermal energy to the nation.
The drilling rig operates around the clock. Shifts are timed with precision, and meals must follow that rhythm. On a typical day, the catering unit serves about 180 people. It prepares six meals at intervals stretching all the way to midnight.
Operating a catering unit in a geothermal field is far more than managing a hotel kitchen – it is sustaining a complex operational ecosystem. Besides the drilling crew, the catering team also serves scientists in laboratories, stores and supplies personnel, and teams working on infrastructure such as roads and water lines.
Here, precision, discipline, and quick decision making are indispensable. Without them, the rhythm of geothermal operations would break down. One can hardly speak of steam and megawatts without speaking of the well-being of the crews behind them – supported by a robust catering unit.
Like the Apollo missions that depended on thousands of unseen hands behind the scenes, Grace understands that she too plays a role in Kenya’s green energy journey.
Indeed, catering is far more than preparing meals. It is part of the machinery that keeps the drilling juggernaut operational.
“When I saw the first well discharge steam at Menengai, and when the first power plant came online with electricity, I shed a tear of joy. I knew I was part of that success,” she says.
For Grace, the value chain is long and complex – planning menus, coordinating supplies, supervising staff, maintaining hygiene standards, and ensuring quality meals are delivered on time.
“There is no catering without a team,” she says with conviction. “Every success belongs to the team. We consult each other constantly because that’s how we deliver the best service.”
Grace joined GDC in July 2010 as a Hospitality Officer and steadily rose through the ranks to become Senior Hospitality Officer in charge of Catering Operations.
Through the years, she has learned that hospitality is not simply about food, but about creating an atmosphere where people feel valued.
Still, the work is not always easy. There are moments when massive delegations arrive, requiring her team to deliver under pressure and within tight timelines. Yet she has consistently risen to the occasion.
Behind her resilience is a strong support system. Grace credits her family for encouraging her to remain innovative, composed, and solution oriented. She also speaks warmly of her former supervisor, Eng. Stephen Kangogo, the Acting Manager for Drilling Operations.
“He was quite supportive,” she says. “He listened and helped us find solutions. We felt fully supported with him around, and that gave us confidence in our work.”
To Eng. Kangogo, Grace is simply incredible.
“She understands her assignment very well,” he says. “Even if you ambush her, she will always have a solution. To me, that level of attitude and commitment is quite something. GDC knows it can always bank on Grace.”
At press time, Grace had just received a new boss -Eng. Phyllis Mathenge.
“I know Phyllis. She is equally engaging, and I’m looking forward to gaining insights from her,” Grace says.
For Grace, hospitality was never accidental. Growing up in the hilly landscapes of Taita, she always felt drawn toward compassion and service. Like many young girls, she loved cooking from an early age. In school, Home Science quickly became her favourite subject – a passion she pursued through high school before enrolling in hospitality college to study Hotel Management.
When the opportunity to serve GDC arose, she took it. However, she had not expected to work in far-flung, remote semi-arid areas like the Paka Geothermal Field. Still, she embraced the challenge. She blossomed.
And she draws a lot of inspirations from food shows. Her favourite chef being Gordon Ramsay. Admired for his passion, discipline, high standards and dedication to excellence in the culinary industry.
“My favourite channels/programs are Hell’s Kitchen, Master Chef, and Kitchen Nightmares. I enjoy watching them because they are educational, entertaining, and they showcase creativity, teamwork, leadership, and problem solving in food and beverage operations,” she explains.
And yes, Grace proudly admits she is a foodie too. “I love meat, especially goat meat,”
she laughs. “I grew up in a culture where goat meat was part of celebrations and family gatherings, so it carries many memories for me.”
Besides her carnivorous sensibilities, she also enjoys colourful, richly flavoured meals and confesses to having a special weakness for chapati.
“Soft chapati with many layers… eeei!” she says with a bright smile.
Away from the geothermal fields, Grace treasures time with her family. Some of her happiest moments involve cooking with her children during school holidays or after work. “Those moments are very special because we laugh, bond, and create memories together,” she recounts.
The family also enjoys watching football together – and divided loyalties between teams make match days lively and full of playful arguments. Grace supports Manchester United. One son cheers for Liverpool FC while the other supports Real Madrid CF. What a mix!
Back at the Menengai camp, the visiting delegation has now finished its tea break. Beyond the buns, there were fish fingers, fresh juice, apples, oranges, and an assortment of snacks carefully prepared by Grace and her team.
As the guests rise to leave, one member of the delegation remarks cheerfully: “That was more than just tea. Let’s appreciate the catering team.”
Grace and her staff are called forward. The room erupts into applause as compliments pour in from the visitors. Grace receives every word of praise with characteristic humility and calm.
After all, for her, this is simply another day of serving people with grace.
Download your copy of the Steam Magazine Issue 18 here: https://www.gdc.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Steam-Magazine-Issue-18.pdf
