How Movie Saved Kenyan Lady from Deportation, Made Her MP in Switzerland

Many Kenyans dream of relocating abroad owing to the tough living conditions locally, which result from high unemployment levels, inflation, and increased taxation. 

However, while moving abroad sounds interesting, it is not a walk in the park since it comes with its fair share of challenges.

One Kenyan who has experienced relocation and its challenges is Yvonne Amolo, a former hotel worker who relocated to Switzerland after meeting and falling in love with a Swiss man in Kenya.

Divorce and Producing a Movie

Following her relocation, the two got married, but unfortunately, the couple divorced after several years of marriage.

Following the divorce, Amolo got a letter from the immigration department informing her that her citizenship would be revoked due to the separation.

Determined to stay in Switzerland, she sued the immigration department.

"I decided to take the immigration office to court and at the time I had to give up my Kenyan pass to get the Swiss one. So if I had given up the Swiss one like they had asked me to do, I would be stateless and with that, you cannot do anything," she revealed in a past interview. 

Her struggles with the divorce and the ensuing immigration case prompted her to produce a movie titled 'Not Swiss Made,' in which she documented the difficulties of fitting into a new culture and the twist her life took after the divorce and the immigration case. 

The movie did well worldwide and earned her over 20 awards, prompting the Swiss authorities to back down on the deportation threat.

Joining Politics

'Not Swiss Made' also paved her way into politics. One of the leaders of the Social Democratic Party watched it and admired how she fought for her rights.

The party leader then contacted her and asked whether she was interested in joining politics. They came to an understanding that the party would finance her education, after which the party nominated her to contest a parliamentary seat in the country and emerged victorious.

As a Member of Parliament (MP), she's been instrumental in fighting for women's employment rights, especially in the military and other key government agencies. She enrolled and joined the army to show her commitment to the course.

In addition to being an MP, she is also the President of the European Minority Parliamentarians Caucus. This body seeks to bring together minority Parliamentarians to advocate for initiatives that will help improve their constituents' lives.