A top financial official at the African Development Foundation faces scrutiny over his management of federal funds and resistance to government oversight.
According to The Daily Wire, Mathieu Zahui, chief financial officer of the African Development Foundation, awarded nearly $800,000 in no-bid contracts to a company owned by his longtime friend while receiving secret wire transfers matching the timing of these federal contracts.
Law enforcement documents reveal that Zahui directed both contracts and grants to Ganiam Ltd., a Kenyan company owned by Maina Gakure, whom he had known since 1999. The company received a questionable $350,000 contract for travel services during COVID-19 lockdowns when little travel was occurring.
Federal investigators discovered text messages showing at least eight instances of wire transfers from Gakure to Zahui's personal bank account, totaling over $10,000. These payments coincided with the awarding of sole-source contracts to Ganiam.
When questioned by investigators, Zahui admitted knowing Gakure personally but claimed he received no direct or indirect benefits. He justified the no-bid contracts by saying he was "lazy" and didn't want to find new vendors.
The agency's regional portfolio manager Jeff Gileo raised concerns about the lack of transparency in project management. In a videotaped interview, he described being denied access to grant information in Mauritius by the CFO's office.
In February 2025, Zahui refused to grant the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to the agency's financial records. When DOGE attempted to enter the building, staff locked the doors, leading to a dramatic confrontation that required U.S. Marshals intervention.
The resistance to oversight came amid allegations of self-dealing, procurement violations, and mysterious offshore bank accounts. Sen. James Risch had previously requested an investigation into a reported $2 million deposit by Zahui into a Ghanaian bank account.
Former agency general counsel Mateo Dunne stated he provided extensive documentation of violations to USAID's inspector general starting in 2021, but apparent violations went unaddressed.
According to its 2022-2023 financial statement, the agency held $9.7 million "outside of treasury." Zahui acknowledged the existence of dormant accounts across Africa containing agency funds.
USAID inspector general established that the IT services contract with Ganiam was improperly subcontracted to another company. Additionally, the agency paid $865,000 to another minority-owned contractor for IT services despite having only 30 employees.
The agency also awarded grants to Ganiam for purchasing airline tickets and organizing U.S. visits for African partners, though the total amount remains undisclosed.
The African Development Foundation's chief financial officer, Mathieu Zahui, faces mounting evidence of financial misconduct through his relationship with Ganiam Ltd. and its owner, Maina Gakure. The discovery of secret payments coinciding with federal contract awards, combined with resistance to oversight and mysterious offshore accounts, has led to a criminal probe and DOGE's forceful intervention. As investigations continue, the agency's financial management practices and the extent of potential misconduct remain under scrutiny, with implications for U.S. foreign aid credibility.
