In a substantial ruling on wage theft, Swahili Village M Street, known for offering Kenyan cuisine, has been ordered to pay over half a million dollars in restitution and penalties. Attorney General Brian Schwalb announced the settlement yesterday, citing a series of serious labor law violations committed by the restaurant, including failure to pay minimum wage and improperly handling tips and overtime, as reported by DC News Now.
D.C. Attorney General's office, following an intense investigation that culminated in the 2023 lawsuit, claimed that Swahili Village DC systematically deprived its employees, many of whom are young African immigrants and people of color, of their duly earned wages, as detailed by Popville. The allegations included paying servers as little as $5 per hour. According to WJLA, Attorney General Schwalb condemned these practices, stating, “It is unacceptable, and illegal, for businesses to steal from their hardworking employees, depriving them of the full benefits they have earned and are legally entitled to."
Per the settlement terms, Swahili Village has agreed to pay more than $260,000 in restitution to 72 workers and $197,614 in penalties to the District of Columbia. The embattled restaurant is also tasked with employing a claims administrator to facilitate the distribution of the restitution. Furthermore, as part of their agreement, Swahili Village must alter its employment practices and remain compliant with D.C. wage and hour laws over the next three years, which includes documenting and reporting back to the OAG on its compliance, as per DC News Now.
Restaurant owner Kevin Onyona and former COO Emad Shoeb, initially denying the allegations, now face the stark reality of these financial and operational penalties imposed by the settlement. Having served an array of patrons touched by the rich flavors of Kenya, behind the scenes, the workers have waited for justice that the District has now mandated will be served, as outlined by Popville. The restaurant's future compliance will be closely monitored to ensure the deleterious patterns of the past do not resurface.
