2022 UDA Campaign Funded by Minnesota Somalis Exposed

A politician from Kenya’s Northeastern region has come out with claims that the UDA campaign was funded by Somalis. The politician made the statement, saying Ruto, Gachagua, and others brought the votes while Somalis supplied the cash. This ties into the ongoing Minnesota fraud case, where stolen U.S. funds reportedly flowed to Kenya through money transfers.

The UDA politician spoke plainly in his revelation. “Ruto, Gachagua and the rest brought in numbers, and we brought the money,” he said. The “we” points to Somali communities, both in Kenya and abroad. His words spread on social media, like a Facebook post from The Kenya Times. That post noted some Minnesota fraud money ended up in UDA campaigns during the 2022 elections. UDA, led by President William Ruto, won big that year. But questions about where the money came from have lingered.

The Minnesota angle makes it bigger. Back in the U.S., federal probes uncovered massive scams in programmes like Feeding Our Future. That’s a nonprofit meant to feed kids during Covid. Prosecutors say folks stole hundreds of millions, maybe billions. Most defendants are Somali-American. They faked meal counts and pocketed cash. Some money went overseas through hawala systems, informal transfers common in Somali circles. Hawala skips banks, making it hard to track.

In Kenya, Eastleigh in Nairobi is a hub for such transfers. TAAJ Money Transfer operates there, handling remittances from the diaspora. The UDA politician named others among FBI suspects for laundering through TAAJ. Reports say stolen U.S. dollars hit Kenya, buying real estate in places like South C and Eastleigh. One video on YouTube traces how fraud cash boosted property booms in those areas. Properties include apartments and land in Mandera, near the Somali border.

Profiles from the U.S. cases show Kenya links. Abdiaziz Farah, a key figure, got 28 years. He sent money home for cars, houses, and a Nairobi building. His brother Ahmednaji Sheikh laundered millions for Kenyan investments. They used sham companies and cash smuggling. Photos of stacked bills in chats show the scale. Liban Alishire gave up a Nairobi house and a Diani resort in his plea deal.

U.S. officials say fraud hit $9 billion across programmes like Medicaid and housing aid. Minnesota has the biggest Somali group in America, over 100,000. Many send money back legitimately. But probes found some funds reached al-Shabaab in Somalia. Treasury tracks transfers and is worried about terror ties. No direct proof links to Kenyan politics yet, but Saddat’s words suggest it.

In Kenya, this stirs old debates. North Eastern has Somali-Kenyans, who are often marginalised. UDA leaders now speak for them. He might be highlighting community roles in UDA wins. Ruto’s party swept Rift Valley and Central but needed broad support. Campaign spending was huge, with questions on sources.

No official response from UDA or Ruto’s office yet. Gachagua, impeached in 2024, also echoed that the money from Minnesota was used in UDA. The FBI hasn’t commented. But a Kenyan national got charged in September for laundering Feeding Our Future cash. He helped send millions abroad.

Online, reactions mix. Some see it as the truth finally out. “Here we go,” one comment said on Instagram. Others call it politics, with elections far off in 2027. A LinkedIn piece argues money flows don’t mean guilt for all. In Eastleigh, business goes on. Shops and transfers buzz. But more scrutiny comes. Kenya’s DCI might probe local ends.

This isn’t isolated. Past scams hit remittances. In 2025, U.S. rhetoric heated up. Trump blamed Somalis, ending protections. Minnesota officials push back, saying most are honest. Walz called it demonising.

For Kenyans, it raises trust issues. Campaigns need clean money. If fraud cash helped, it taints wins. The politician is on the suspect list, so his motives matter. Is he deflecting or exposing?

The story started with Covid aid abuse. Nonprofits claimed fake services. In Minnesota, tourists even joined scams. Funds bought luxuries, then were wired out. In Kenya, that cash builds wealth, but at what cost?

Authorities say more charges are coming. Over 90 indicted so far. If links to UDA hold, it could shake politics. For now, the popular northeastern politician’s words hang there, prompting questions.

People in the Northeast feel the heat. Communities contribute, but fraud stains all. Real estate booms in Eastleigh draw eyes. Locals say most transfers help families, not scams.

As probes go on, more might surface. Kenya-U.S. ties matter for extraditions. The UDA member could face questions. The revelation opens a can of worms on funding and fraud.