Kenyan Running Successful Restaurant Chain in the US Impresses Ruto
Kevin Onyona, the owner of the Swahili Village restaurant chain, takes pride in hosting high-profile individuals including the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President William Ruto, former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Even though his restaurant in Washington D.C.'s diplomatic district caters to bigwigs and dignitaries with African cuisine, Onyona opts for a casual combo of blue checked shirt and sporty pants. His business empire was valued at $3.5 million in 2020 and he operates three restaurants in Beltsville, Maryland, downtown Washington D.C. and Newark, New Jersey, with plans to open two more in Northern Virginia and Manhattan, New York. Onyona relishes the opportunity of serving an elite clientele spanning the global front. Despite being self-taught, Onyona's American dream was sparked by his girlfriend's educational pursuits and is now spreading like wildfire.
Onyona's girlfriend moved to Maryland for her studies which led him to take a sales executive job at the Home Depot. However, he became frustrated with the lack of African restaurants offering a fine dining experience suitable for family outings. He explains that the restaurants nearby did not have dinner spaces or serve a nice, decent meal with good hygiene and ambience. Disappointed by the absence of the missing luxury, Onyona decided to quit his position and voyage into the hospitality industry to meet his identified, unfilled vision.
He wanted to provide a good space for the African community to dine with their families and enjoy the foods they were familiar with. Onyona's passion for cooking, which he developed while watching his grandmother prepare meals, guided his career path. He believes that everyone should have some culinary skills.
In 2016, the inaugural "Swahili Village" restaurant opened its doors in Beltsville, Maryland, aiming to offer diners an authentic African experience. The establishment's founder has prioritized all components of the dining affair, comprising delightful service, auspicious food quality, heart-warming décor ambience, and captivating music playlists. Swahili Village proffers an array of unique African feasts such as Nyama Choma, Ugali, and Kachumbari, among an extensive selection of others. The Kenyan preparation style used by the restaurant sets it apart from others in the industry.
Swahili Village caters to groups of five to seven people with offerings of grilled goat, beef, and chicken accompanied by collard greens, spinach, cabbage, ugali, and chapati, all topped with kachumbari. The restaurant also serves Ndengu (Greengrams), chapati, pilau, mbuzi choma, chicken curry, fish curry, tilapia curry, African tea, and Tusker, a popular Kenyan beer. Swahili Village has employed nearly 300 individuals from over 10 different countries. The founder plans to work with the U.S. Department of Labor to hire skilled workers from Kenya.
Onyona has signed agreements with several universities in Kenya to offer internships that will train students and potentially lead to job opportunities. Onyona also aims to establish a foundation to give back to society and plans to exit his current role at Swahili Village in one to two years to focus on bigger ambitions. The brand is also looking to expand to Dubai in the near future.
During his trip to New Jersey on September 17, President William Ruto visited the Swahili Village restaurant where he praised the owner for successfully operating a Kenyan restaurant in the USA. Accompanied by Foreign Affairs CS Alfred Mutua and Tourism CS Peninnah Malonza as well as Kenyans in the diaspora, the President had the chance to try out some of the dishes on offer.
Comments (18)
It is always goodnews when a Kenyan in diaspora does something praiseworthy,and condemnation in equal measure when they engage is shameful or underhanded ways...
Not too long this Anyona fellow was sued by some of his employees for underpaying them.If true,this is a stain on his reputation.His idea of bringing' experienced' Kenyans to work for him is commendable,but as they say, the devil is in details.I can envision situations whereby some will complain, that they are in" a slave labor camp " for pittance.Chinese do it all the time.
I dont know this guy,but I hope avarice does not blind him into using underhanded ways to succeed on the back of vulnerable workers...That said, on the face of it without looking at the balance sheet"...na hiyo ni maendeleo".
Is RUTO aware that This VILLAGE Guy has a Case to ANSWER in CCOURT in US (for Exploiting AFRICAn Employees)? Upako wa CORRUPTION naona🙄 Ukitirika mpaka US (RUTO being the Head of the CORRUPTION).
Yes, Ruto is very familiar with this guys case of theft and corruption but Ruto survives better in the company of crooks and corrupt thieves!
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https…
Is not the same fellow that is under investigation, good food my ass treat ur employees rite
The guy is a conman. No wonder you are impressed by com men and thieves. That’s the company you keep because you are one of them.
President didn't get 411 on this Onyona fraud?
Isn’t this guy getting sued in DC for not paying his employees and stealing their tips? Food is overpriced and tasteless.
This is same guy you are touting that was accused of taking advantage of kenyans and other immigrants by paying less than minimum wages. See here https://www.mwakilishi.com/article/diaspora-news/2023-08-26/kenyan-busi…
The story left out the part where Ruto turned to his henchmen and asked, “how can we tax these businesses at 30%, plus 18% VAT??”
Ruto wants to steal even from the most corrupt in the bunch! No wonder he wants to tax this crooked restaurant owner 30% plus plus! What a freaking shame! What happened to the hustlers who get cheated by Ruto and this hotelier??
I am assuming the restaurant's clientele is predominantly Kenyan.My experience,or should I say observation with "ethnic" restaurants is that their genesis is largely rooted in the hope for' ethnic' support.And a bonus when it breaks through like the Chinese,Mexicans,Japanese,and to an extend Indians.The risk here is obvious...
By habit,and culture,especially the older generation,africans do not patronize restaurants in numbers compared to wazungu.Could be wrong,but it is rare to see african families' trekking' to restaurants for dinner.mwafrica would rather not spend $300 dollars on a family dinner,when it can go toward- Kaploti in rift valley. ...Basically what Iam saying is counting on 'homogeneous' support is risky.It takes only one disgruntled "tribesman/woman" to upset the apple cart. Good example-It was reported that Kikuyus supported Hilary,and Luos supported Obama,after the 2007 post election"tribal clashes"...Yes we can proudly call ourselves Kenyans,but our unity balances delicately on tribal lineage.Unfortunately.
Ruto should be impressed because the owner was recently accused of stealing tips from his employ, a method of stealing with which Ruto is too familiar as he is a well known thief!
Ruto cannot stay away from crooks because he is one of them.
HA HA You mean the under investigation "tippreneur"
Hii ni PR tu
What a shocker!!! Why would the president praise such a guy who has a bad reputation for not paying his employees as they deserve? I ate there several months ago and I was not impressed. The food did not have the Kenyan flavor, but I ate it nevertheless since I was paying over $50 for it. The chai masala was really good though:).
Mjamaa amejaribu kusema ukweli. He erred...I hope he pays up, learns a lesson and then build it even bigger. Last time I checked most Kenyans underpay their house girls ..some even pima the food they eat...and others don't let the girls retire to bed early. Waking up at 5am ..and working until 10pm is not right. All in all, two wrongs do not make a right....alipe penalty na alipe a livable wage thereafter.