Deportation order for chef John Mulwa ‘traumatized’ Hamilton’s Kenyan community | 24CA News

Chef John Mulwa has been an vital a part of Hamilton’s Kenyan neighborhood for nearly a decade, after coming to Canada in 2014, fleeing violence in his nation of origin. 

On Jan. 28, he’ll be deported again to Kenya the place, he says, some members of the family have been killed over land disputes and it will not be secure for him to return.

“John is one of the most vibrant people we have in this community,” stated pal and fellow Kenyan-Hamiltonian Jared Kibagendi.

Mulwa has been a chef for many years, working all all over the world with Celebrity Cruises. More not too long ago, Mulwa labored as a chef for the Mohawk Students’ Association at Mohawk College.

But his largest ardour is his catering business, the place he makes African meals for individuals within the African diaspora who’re residing in shelters and want a style of house.

“There are a lot of African people who came for safe refuge too, and most of them were living in the shelter, but there was no food for them. So, I would collect food and then I’ll go around to check in for them,” he stated. 

Mulwa is all the time the one behind the grill at neighborhood barbecues, Kibagendi stated. He described Mulwa as a pure host and “family guy”. 

The people who find themselves threatening me and my household are positively going to come back for me.– Hamilton chef John Mulwa

Together, Kibagendi and Mulwa are president and vice-president of a self-help group for Hamilton’s Kenyan neighborhood, known as Jamii. 

Kibagendi stated lots of the individuals in Hamilton’s Kenyan neighborhood are refugees who’ve fled hazard, and who’ve made a brand new house for themselves in Canada. 

“[Mulwa] being on a deportation order, that thing has really traumatized most of the Kenyan community people here,” he stated. 

“Kenya is not Canada,” Kibagendi stated, including that if they’re going to deport Mulwa, they need to deport him to a different nation, as a result of he won’t be secure in Kenya. 

Hamilton’s Kenyan neighborhood has began a petition on Change.org, pleading for the federal government to rethink the deportation orders. 

‘Canada is house to me’

In 2014, he stated, he was working overseas when he heard some members of his household had been killed over land disputes again in Kenya. 

His unique plan was to go to the United States and discover work there, however when he landed in B.C., he did a Google search of the place Kenyan refugees keep in Canada, and found lots of his fellow Kenyans have been within the GTA. 

Before fleeing Kenya, Mulwa stated he had been to Canada earlier than whereas engaged on a cruise ship as a chef. 

“I saw Canada is one of the best places where I can live and…. feel safe,” he stated. 

Mulwa stated when he arrived in Canada, he was scuffling with despair and trauma from fleeing Kenya. 

He instructed himself, “the only way to heal from this is to connect with the Kenyan community,” and have become an energetic neighborhood chief. 

He labored at Samir Halal Supermarkets in Hamilton as a butcher, labored as a line chef at Mohawk College, organized the Hamilton Kenyan Annual Barbecue and began his personal catering business. 

This previous summer season, he labored with Murphy’s Country Produce on a particular undertaking, the place he grew east African greens on a Binbrook farm. 

“Canada is home to me,” he stated. 

Lack of documentation impacts refugee software

But acquiring refugee standing whereas already residing in Canada proved to be tough. 

“When I explained the same story I’m explaining to you, for some reason [Canadian Border Services] did not believe me,” he stated. 

Hamilton immigration advisor Charlene DaSilva stated in search of refugee standing in Canada is a multi-step course of that requires a number of hearings and documented proof that you’re unsafe in your nation of origin. 

“If you’re going to come to Canada and say I need the protection of Canada, Canada wants to see, ‘Well, what is the proof of that? You know, do you have police records? Do you have medical records? Do you have threats, written threats? Do you have anything that actually substantiates your fear?'” she stated. 

Mulwa stated he was initially allowed into the nation as a refugee, and DaSilva stated he doubtless had a two-year window to show his standing. 

He stated he was requested “to collect evidence from the same country that I was hurt.”

“How [could you] go to the same village where you are being threatened to ask random people to give you evidence of what you’re going through?” Mulwa stated. 

Mulwa stated he fears for his security in Kenya. 

“The people who are threatening me and my family are definitely going to come for me,” he stated. 

Kibagendi stated sending Mulwa again to Kenya is like throwing him right into a den of lions.

Mulwa stated he utilized for refugee standing in 2014 and was denied, and that he appealed the choice 3 times afterwards and was denied each time.

In June 2022 he utilized for a remaining enchantment with the Federal Court of Canada for a judicial evaluation however was denied. 

A Canadian Border Services spokesperson, Rebecca Purdy, responded to CBC Hamilton’s inquiries about Mulwa’s case by means of e-mail. She stated she was unable to reply questions associated to Mulwa’s case, however stated, “The decision to remove someone from Canada is not taken lightly.”

“Once individuals have exhausted all legal avenues of appeal and due process, they are expected to respect our laws and leave Canada or be removed,” she stated. 

Mulwa has one final probability — he’s in search of humanitarian and compassionate grounds for everlasting residency in Canada.

Mulwa stated he utilized on Dec. 12, 2022, and has acquired affirmation that his software has been acquired.