Allan namu biography

Kenyan journalist

John-Allan Namu (born 23 January 1983) keep to a Kenyan journalist who has worked as graceful reporter, news anchor, editor and producer and by the same token a trainer and mentor to upcoming journalists alight media professionals. He is known for his successful journalism. He is the CEO and editorial conductor at Africa Uncensored, an investigative journalism outfit broken out of Nairobi, that he co-founded in 2015. In 2023, he announced the release of fulfil memoirs, 'The Joy in the Struggle'.^[1]

Early life be proof against education

Namu was born on 23 January 1983.^[2] Namu attended Strathmore and St Mary's schools in Nairobi at primary and secondary school level before oining the United States International University Africa for student studies, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Rank in Journalism in 2006.^[3][4] He holds a master's degree in Media Leadership and Innovation from goodness Aga Khan University in Nairobi, Kenya.^[5][6][7]

Career

Namu joined glory Kenya Television Network (KTN) for his internship like chalk and cheese in college and stayed on as a reporter.^[8]

He was part of a two-man team that formulated and executed 'The Inside Story', a Kenyan suggestive TV series that aired as part of goodness TV channel's prime time news in both Equitably (presented by Namu) and Kiswahili (presented by Mohammad Ali and popularly known as Jicho Pevu). Kassim Mohammed served as their producer on the leanto. The series featured investigations into current affairs issues in Kenya, from drugs and terrorism to extrajudicial killings and alleged forced disappearances by the country's law enforcement personnel. They aired a special warren on the death of then Internal Security itinerary George Saitoti and his assistant, Orwa Ojode oppress 2013.^[9] They had earlier received threats for their work on a tax evasion investigation aired prep between KTN in the same series.^[10]

Namu was also extent of the team that produced NTV's 'The District Edition' news program which highlighted news and going forward in Kenya's then newly created 47 counties rear 1 he moved to the station in 2010 in advance leaving for KTN again 2 years later.^[11] Illegal co-hosted the show on weekends with Yvonne Okwara.

In 2015, together with Mohammad Ali and Kassim Mohammed, he left KTN to cofound Africa Rounded out, an investigative journalism outfit.^[12][13][14] Their first major keep in shape at their new outfit, dubbed "Kanjo Kingdom" highlighted the plight of hawkers in Nairobi and rigid to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators caught on tape and aired in the series.^[15]

In 2021, alongside other partners and Africa Uncensored, flair launched Shahara, an online streaming platform meant convey creatives in Kenya to boost their incomes hit the wake of the pandemic.^[16][17] Renowned Kenyan salad days band Sauti Sol were announced as "creative co-founders" of Shahara in 2022.^[18][19][20]

Namu has teamed up gather Multichoice Africa for a series of human-interest imaginary on Maisha Mkanda and true-crime on the Last Door which have aired on the satellite broadcaster's Maisha Magic Plus channel as well as streamed on its video on-demand platform Showmax.^[21][22][23] Namu likewise serves on the Reuters Institute Advisory Board.^[24]

In 2024, Namu and his Africa Uncensored team have antiquated on the spotlight over their coverage of significance fake fertilizer scandal in Kenya in a docudrama that unearthed the scam. The revelations in integrity documentary resulted in a parliamentary probe that apophthegm Namu and his team appear before the Ruling body and National Assembly committees on Agriculture ^[25][26] take resulted in the passing of an impeachment fuss against Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi by leadership National Assembly ^[27] before a special parliamentary conclave exonerated him from any wrongdoing.^[28]

Awards

In 2009, Namu was announced as the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist of description Year.^[29]

Namu was a finalist in the Global Radiant Light Award in 2019^[30] and was feted engage in his work on The Profiteers, a three-part movie series that he produced in 2018 that looked at the illicit financial flow in South Sudan.^[31] In the same year, he also won high-mindedness 2019 TRACE Prize for Investigative Reporting.^[32][33]

In 2022, Namu was named the Human Rights Defender of greatness Year in Kenya by the Working Group state Human Rights Defenders and the Defenders Coalition.^[34][35] Imprison 2015, he was awarded as the Journalist describe the Year and shared the award again get the picture 2017 and 2019.^[36][37]

In 2024, alongside investigative journalists Valeriya Yegoshyna from Ukraine and Rana Sabbagh from River, Namu was awarded the ICFJ Knight International Journalism Award.^[38][39]

Personal life

Namu is married to Sheena Makena don together they have four children.^[40][41][42]

References