It was the perfect crime for a pandemic. While the world locked down and millions lost their livelihoods, a tight-knit group of enterprising Kenyans in Minnesota saw an opening not to serve, but to steal. Their target? A US federal feeding programme meant to keep vulnerable children from going hungry.

Today, the sprawling Karibu Palms Resort in Diani and high-rise apartments in Nairobi’s South C stand not as monuments to diaspora success, but as evidence of a staggering betrayal. They are the brick-and-mortar proceeds of a $300 million (approx. KES 39 billion) fraud scheme that US prosecutors have dubbed the largest of its kind in history.

For the first time, court filings and investigative reports have unmasked the specific individuals—the "architects"—who turned American taxpayer money into Kenyan real estate, moving cash in suitcases and wire transfers while children in Minnesota allegedly went without meals.

The 'Feeding Our Future' Mirage

The scheme centered on a non-profit called "Feeding Our Future." In theory, it was a humanitarian lifeline. In practice, US authorities say it was a massive money-laundering operation. The premise was simple: the US government reimbursed non-profits for meals served to children during the Covid-19 crisis.

The architects of the fraud created shell companies and fake rosters, claiming to feed thousands of children a day—numbers that were physically impossible. In one instance, a storefront halal market claimed to be serving more meals daily than the largest school district in the state.

"They were stealing money meant to feed children during a global pandemic," noted US Attorney-General Pamela Bondi, emphasizing the moral depravity of the crime. "Few, if any, were ever fed."

Profile: The Mastermind

At the heart of the network was Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, 26. A charismatic figure in the diaspora community, Farah didn't just participate; he orchestrated. Prosecutors revealed that he personally pocketed over $8 million (KES 1 billion) in just 18 months.

Farah’s ambition was matched only by his recklessness. Court documents show he texted a co-conspirator, boasting, "In 7 months, if things stay the same, you are a multi-millionaire with 0 debt."

Instead of feeding kids, Farah fed a real estate portfolio. He funneled proceeds into Kenya, purchasing a high-rise apartment building in Nairobi's South C estate and land in Mandera. His empire crumbled in mid-2025 when a jury convicted him of wire fraud and money laundering. He was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison—a lifetime for a man in his twenties.

Profile: The Diani Investor

While Farah focused on Nairobi, Liban Yasin Alishire, 43, looked to the coast. Alishire, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitted to using the stolen funds to purchase the luxurious Karibu Palms Resort in Diani Beach.

The resort, with its pristine white sands and turquoise waters, was bought with money wired directly from the fraud scheme. Alishire also surrendered a house in Nairobi and multiple vehicles as part of his plea deal. His case highlights how the stolen funds were not just saved, but laundered into tangible, high-value Kenyan assets that US agents are now aggressively moving to seize.

The Money Trail: Boxes of Cash

The sophistication of the laundering operation has alarmed banking officials in both countries. It wasn't just digital transfers. The investigation revealed a gritty, old-school approach to moving money.

• Cash Mules: Photos recovered by the FBI show banker's boxes stuffed with hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash.
• The Brother's Keeper: Ahmednaji Maalim Aftin Sheikh, Abdiaziz Farah's brother, was indicted for allegedly helping move these illicit funds into the Kenyan financial system.
• Shell Companies: Dozens of fake entities were registered in Kenya to receive wire transfers, disguised as legitimate business investments.

"The case sheds light on how hard cash was sent from the US in boxes to be spent in buying real estate," a source close to the investigation told Streamline News. "It exposes a vulnerability in our own anti-money laundering frameworks."

The Fallout

The impact of this scandal reverberates far beyond the individuals jailed. It has cast a shadow over the hardworking Kenyan diaspora in the US, many of whom fear increased scrutiny and stigmatization. With 78 people charged—72 of them of Somali descent—the cultural fallout is palpable.

US authorities have made it clear: borders will not protect stolen assets. As the Department of Justice initiates forfeiture proceedings against the Nairobi and Diani properties, the message is stark.

"Bro, the next multi-legit millionaires will be me and you," Farah had once texted a friend. Today, that dream is a prison cell, and the millions are being returned to the American taxpayer, leaving behind only empty buildings and a cautionary tale for the ages.