When Velso Aleso moved to China in 2013 as a domestic worker, she was unaware of the challenges that came with relocating without sufficient financial resources. Facing a setback in her career, she turned adversity into an opportunity, using her skills to create a new path.
Assigned to the office of Kenya’s then-ambassador to China, Michael Kinyanjui, Aleso worked as a housekeeper, managing the domestic operations of his residence. Initially hesitant, she overcame her fear upon arriving in Beijing and took on the role, which also involved catering.
“I was a local staff at embassy, I worked for them as a housekeeper and later on, worked as a chef. I cooked for so many people at that embassy,” she said in a past interview.
One of her most distinguished guests was former President Uhuru Kenyatta who dined at the embassy during one of his visits to China.
After six consecutive years of work, Aleso was suddenly retrenched without notice, leaving her jobless. She quickly devised a fallback plan and decided to restart her catering career, this time as an independent businesswoman.
Over time, she began making native meals for her Kenyan friends in Bejing and through their referrals, her fortunes were looking up, and business was booming. She also partnered with Kenyan traditional performers and chefs skilled in local cuisine to cater at talent shows in the foreign country.
Through this exposure, people from other African countries would have a taste of authentic Kenyan cuisine and seek her service. Shortly after, she was able to open her restaurant, Velma African Kitchen.
The entrepreneur became popular among African communities in the foreign land, offering catering services that featured meals from across the continent.
When asked of her motivation, Aleso stated that she wanted to embody a mother’s love, providing her customers -mostly international students- a home-cooked meal and remind them of home.
Amomg the most popular dishes served at her restaurant include pilau, nyama choma, mukimo, roasted fish and chapati.
Her business has experienced tremendous growth, evolving from personal deliveries to online orders through food apps.
Some may deem her restaurant as an ordinary venture, but for Aleso, it has financed her children’s education in an international school back home. She has also educated her siblings to university level. Her efforts extend to helping orphans in her hometown in Kenya.
Aleso has plans to expand her business in other major cities in China, and eventually becomes a proprietor of a chain of restaurants offering a taste of Kenya.