Investigative journalist John Allan Namu is the first winner of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Award.

The ICFJ awarded the journalist for her investigative work that exposed corruption, human rights abuses, police brutality and more.

John Allan has been at the forefront of Kenyan journalism for two decades. He received the award on Friday, November 15, 2024.

The co-founder and CEO of African Uncensored is revolutionizing the Kenyan media landscape. He leads a team dedicated to exposing corruption, human abuse, police brutality and femicide among other cases in the country.

The former KTN journalist’s investigative work made significant waves in the country.

His most recent work, Fertile Deception exposed the widespread circulation of counterfeit government fertilizers across the country.

In 2023, his reports exposed how corruption and poor governance allowed cartels to control essential services in Kenya’s slums. With faulty electricity and water connections, houses become death traps.

In his acceptance speech, the journalist credited his success through exemplary storytelling to his grandfather and mother who, he revealed, taught him the art of storytelling from an early age.

“Even my words and style are not entirely my own; I learned how to tell stories from my grandfather and his daughter, my mother, who taught me how to write my first words and told me charming stories,” Namu said.

The journalist was speaking at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC on Friday at the 2024 ICFJ Tribute to Journalists.

With his award, Namu celebrated other journalists who he says played a role in his success.

“The award they receive celebrates journalists who, despite difficult circumstances, produce pioneering work that has a significant impact in their countries.

“I am deeply grateful that my work and contributions should be described in such glowing terms. I hope my work and the work of uncensored Africa continues to live up to that description,” he continued.

Namu challenged Kenyan journalists to keep telling stories, nothing but those stories to illuminate some of the darkest parts of our society.

Especially at this time when Kenya’s youth are saddled with debt they didn’t take on, worn down by corruption and struggling to make sense of murders and kidnappings in the wake of nationwide protests.