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10 /diaspora-news.php DIASPORA NEWS

Owner of Swahili Village Restaurant in Washington, DC Accused of Stealing His Employees’ Wages

By Martin Olage Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 12:05pm 2921 views 39 comments
Owner of Swahili Village Restaurant in Washington, DC Accused of Stealing His Employees’ Wages

Kevin Onyona

Comment 39
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Authorities in Washington, DC are prosecuting Kevin Onyona, a Kenyan restaurant owner in Washington, DC, for allegedly stealing wages from hundreds of employees.

The Attorney-General of Washington, DC, Brian Schwalb, has accused Onyona and his business executive, Emad Shoeb, of violating the city's tipped minimum wage law and other worker protections by stealing wages from their staff. Schwalb says that Swahili Village, Onyona's restaurant on the city's M Street, added a 20% gratuity to all patrons' bills and that the owners kept a large portion of the tips meant for the employees. The lawsuit claims that the employees were offered wages far below the minimum wage guidelines set by DC.

“Onyona and Shoeb stole from their working-class employees, many of whom are African immigrants, even while catering to an elite international clientele,” the lawsuit says.

According to the Attorney General, the owners of the Swahili Village are facing allegations of unethical conduct and exploitation of their workers. The AG reveals that the restaurant owners are accused of taking money intended for employees and paying their workers as little as $5 per hour which is in violation of government wage regulations. The Swahili Village is a famous diner that was once frequented by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta

The AG's lawsuit further claims that the owners failed to pay legally required overtime and sick leave to their employees who were often underpaid and had their tips taken away. The AG's office has launched an investigation following complaints from employees and interviewed over a dozen of them as part of the preparation for the charges.
 

Comments

PPPian

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 02:54pm

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Double tragedy to Say the Least. The US is Not a Place to BILK your Employees and Get away With it Like that. The US is not Kenya.

Mwororo

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 02:55pm

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The Kenyan-BiG-C Disease- a chroronic corruption virus, first reported in a place called Knya has spread to swahili village in washington DC USA. The main carrier of this dangerous and fatal disease, a Mr. Kevin Onyona will have to be killed, says the Washinton DC Attorney General, in order to save hundreds of thousands of Wasington DC area residents who may be vulnerable to the Kenyan strain of corruption virus. The symptoms of this malady, BiG-C disease, according to KEMRI (Kenya Medical Research Institute) are: irresistable impulse craving for money that belongs to others,violently and cunningly taking other people's money to spend in luxurious life style, and obsessive compulsive disorder of itching to show off things and life style you bought with stolen money.

Muturi

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 04:31pm

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If truly all this allegations are true, then Mr Onyona is a very cold hearted human being!! Salvage to say the least. How can you treat people who barely make it and furthermore your fellow immigrants who are trying to achieve their dreams this way. Even if the DC authorities didn’t intervene the wrath of the Lord was or still on the way

Mūndūmūgo

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 04:41pm

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Kama ni kweli, fahamu kuwa huwezi kuhonga mtu yeyote

Maxiley

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 03:48am

In reply to Kama ni kweli, fahamu kuwa… by Mūndūmūgo

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@ Mundumugo, he will try.I have buddy who was ticketed for traffic violation... We had amutual friend in the police force in Indiana.This friend called the cop.and wanted the ticket to "go away". -That did not happen. Iam not saying that there is no corruption in USA.It is there,but not on this "childish level".
You may also recall on this forum,a Kenyan lady, I believe it was in Georgia, where she offered a cop a some cash after being pulled over for traffic violation.The cop did not bite...
Iam not sure of what is going on in DC,but
save for paying someone under the table,you cannot get away with under paying someone who is on your payroll without violeting labor laws.Onyona got greedy.He must not have been happy to see waiters getting a killing from tips.I guess his reasoning was," hey It's my business and you are earning alot more than what I think you are worth".This reminds me of the famous Congolese musician Luambo makiadi-Franco.After entertaining Mobutu sese seko kuku ngbendu wa za Banga,he was given two envelopes containing cash. One was supposed be he his,and the other for the rest of the band. Luambo opened the envelope designated for the band members and took a handful of cash and added to his his envelope...You get the drift...The major difference is that labor laws in Congo much like Kenya are pretty much ignored.Not in USA.

KKK

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 06:11pm

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The reason I stopped eating at this establishment. They force you to tip even on pick up orders. Food is extremely overpriced and it’s not even worth the price.

Mzalendo

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 07:33pm

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Wakenya thy can't keep off their nasty thuggishness

Imara - Suluhisho

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 07:55pm

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Ni wajibu wa kila MKenya kupambana na ufisadi kila mahali: nchini, pia nje ya Kenya.

SimamaImara

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 07:57pm

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If you are greedy you don't qualify to start a biz. I bet the money was going elsewhere mostly his village building skyscrapers and such. He's spoiled Swahili name for many..

Juju

Sat, 08/26/2023 @ 10:01pm

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The Jaluo octopus tentacles of thievery will be dealt with swiftly by the law enforcement authorities!!! Prison, restitution, fines, business shut down etc etc

Josia

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 06:28pm

In reply to The Jaluo octopus tentacles… by Juju

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You just had to show your hate for a tribe!! Unfortunately the man is not even a Luo!!

Juju

Tue, 08/29/2023 @ 11:28am

In reply to You just had to show your… by Josia

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It’s not about a tribe, the African mental disease, it’s about Jaluoism!!!

Calleya

Thu, 08/31/2023 @ 01:17pm

In reply to You just had to show your… by Josia

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Yes, his (this Juju) hatred & foolishness is showing; both arrogant & ignorant.

Felex

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 12:10am

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Let him face the wrath of US law..to be a lesson while working in diaspora

Mlandizi

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 12:33am

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Interesting enough, Kevin Onyona contributed heavily to Ruto's campaign in the 2022 general elections. Ruto has been known to reward his friends and I have a feeling Onyona has a soft landing awaiting him at Weston Hotel as the Executive Chef.

Mlandizi

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 12:35am

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Onyona sasa ataona mambo.

Willy K'Agutu

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 12:51am

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I was once Swahili Village not long ago. As I was taking snacks, I got discouraged when the manager on shift that time could not speak Swahili. The tea was good though. That a side, how do you knowingly treat employees this bad? Well, let this serve punishment to make others learn. Corruption is worse than covid, AIDS, cancer, etc.

mteja

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 09:55am

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This place gets zero star rating for tarnishing our Kenyan heritage in so many ways. The food tastes gross too. It used to be better before Covid but not any more. Bure kabisa

Menye

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 11:37am

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The AG might be exaggerating on $5 per hour pay.Maybe Onyona thought Washington prosecutor was a Wako or Tobiko and workers reps were Atwoli.

MakOnyango

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 12:27pm

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This sort of behavior is nothing new with Kenyans in America, especially in the healthcare industry. Kenyans who own nursing homes exploit their undocumented countrymen/women with reckless abandon with Seattle WA being a prime example.

Kora Kanini

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 12:40pm

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Kenyans have over taken our Nigerian brothers.

Pam Griffin

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 03:37pm

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@ Muturi seems like you don't know about Kenyans in Diaspora and what they can do to other Kenyans.

Guest

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 05:42pm

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Do not agree to be exploited working under the table for your own people just be like the Mexicans cash only and usually on the same day.There is no honor among thieves he probably was employing undocumented desperate Kenyans from his village then threatening to report them if they do not settle for whatever peanuts he was offering.Karma never forgets or forgives time to pay up not only the workers but Uncle Sam

Kikuyu Wamjomba

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 09:11pm

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He is running the business here in US “ the Kenya way “

Sina si doog

Sun, 08/27/2023 @ 11:58pm

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Onyona should hire a smart lawyer to try plea bargain deal-heavy fine and pay all workers their remaining wages.

Philly

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 07:44am

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US is not Kenya. You don't get away with stuff

Mlandizi

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 09:15am

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This sort of behavior is nothing new with Kenyan business owners in the United States, especially in the nursing home business. I have heard of stories from Seattle that makes me think Kenyans are no different from Arab employers in the Gulf states.

Shaka

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 12:50pm

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The portions of food I got was highway robbery so not surprised

SimamaImara

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 10:01pm

In reply to The portions of food I got… by Shaka

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Most Kenyan restaurants serve little food at a high price. They must change or collapse. Adding America diet will help. Adding Calories heavy carbs would help fill the gap

Kari

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 03:08pm

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Let’s not point fingers so quickly- we wait until full investigation is complete and they have a chance to defend themselves. Let’s extend grace to our own- he may have made business mistakes that he himself has already learned a lesson.. but let’s not throw stones..

Maxiley

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 05:28pm

In reply to Let’s not point fingers so… by Kari

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That true @ Kari,but surely you call tell when your paycheck does not add up...on regular basis.

Juju

Tue, 08/29/2023 @ 01:40am

In reply to Let’s not point fingers so… by Kari

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Nah, thieving from your workers is a big NO that must be punished to the fullest extent of the law! In US, the prosecutors already have firm evidence that can withstand trial beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law! Yah, the thief is presumed innocent until proven guilty, but this Jaluo is guilty as hell on fire 🔥

Formerlyguest 2

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 04:17pm

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Maybe there is more to just not paying wages....just saying............

Maxiley

Tue, 08/29/2023 @ 11:32am

In reply to Maybe there is more to just… by Formerlyguest 2

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LIke "# Me too"...just saying

Formerlyguest 2

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 04:18pm

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His rich West Africans will bail him out *wink***

Eric

Mon, 08/28/2023 @ 10:20pm

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Was there a few weeks ago and was really disappointed that the one item you'd think should never run out, was out. TUSKER!. Who does that.

Ken

Tue, 08/29/2023 @ 03:55pm

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He has done well for himself and deserves kudos.. Chinese and Koreans do the same thing but don’t get as much hatred as our kenyan brothers and sisters.. Congrats Mr Onyona, just fix the wage issue and sky is the limit

Kelly

Sun, 09/03/2023 @ 06:53pm

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This one foolish guy is heading to jail! Ruto is not the conman president in America. Mjinga wewe Mwizi!

Akech

Wed, 09/20/2023 @ 02:32pm

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Mr. Kevin Onyona's generosity of trying to help his fellow Kenyan men and women who came here to USA without working papers HAS landed him into the HANDS of the SHAMELESS, PARASITIC Kenyan ruling ELITES LEACHES and their STAFF RIDERS who love to REAP where they did not sow!!

Kevin Onyona's vision, which is rare for a Kenya man, who unlike those parasites who are now going AFTER him, must have thought cooking Kenyan cuisines was a good business MODEL to earn INDEPENDENCE by preparing food for others!

Now that he has made it, those lazy and jealous PARASITES have brought in their ALLIES from the Kenyan government ruling elites and are HELLBENT on bringing him down using their US government connections, including the US justice system!! THIS IS WHAT THIS CASE IS ALL ABOUT, JEALOUSY and GREED!

This case is good REMINDER and confirmation of how African chiefs sold their brothers and sisters into SLAVERY in the Americas where many of those unlucky captured Africans were thrown overboard the slave ships and DUMPED into the ATLANTIC OCEAN, never to be seen again!

Africa is poor because of these traitorous and PARASITIC Africans colaborating with the descendants of the former slave masters!

If these accusation are true, ALMOST ALL RESTURANTS in USA and elsewhere practice what Mr. Onyona is being accused of and all of them must be investigated! Taking advantage of new immigrants is found everywhere in USA, with some of them being deported if they complain!

The only difference is that the current RAT Kenyan President is heavily involvement in bringing down Mr. Onyona ! "OYIEYO KAYI TO KUDHI"!

These Kenyan parasites must get OFF the back of Mr. Kevin Onyona!!!

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