JOHN ALLAN NAMU WINS THE PRESTIGIOUS KNIGHT AWARDS

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) has announced three winners of the prestigious Knight Awards in recognition of the journalists’ exceptional impact and commitment to uncovering wrongdoing.

Kenyan reporter and media entrepreneur John-Allan Namu was announced as one of the winners alongside Valeriya Yegoshyna, an investigative reporter from Ukraine. While Rana Sabbagh, a renowned investigative editor from Jordan, is the recipient of the 2024 ICFJ Knight Trailblazer Award.

The three winners will be honoured on November 14 at the 40th Anniversary ICFJ Tribute to Journalists in Washington, D.C. 

“These journalists stand out for their brave work exposing abuses of power, in places where it is both highly challenging and dangerous,” ICFJ President Sharon Moshavi said. “From corruption to war crimes, the outstanding journalism they have done has led to greater accountability and change.”

The winners were selected by a panel of judges made up of leading newsroom editors, past ICFJ award winners and other distinguished members. “John-Allan is an extraordinary storyteller and a media innovator,” said Dickens Olewe, an ICFJ Knight Award judge and program officer for global media partnerships at Gates Foundation.

“Undeterred by threats, he has courageously covered numerous public interest stories that have positively impacted people’s lives in Kenya and beyond. His reporting demonstrates the essence of ‘journalism as a service’ and has inspired many across the continent.”