Award winning journalist Paul Wafula Joins Defrontera as Managing Editor
CPA, known for his unrelenting pursuit of social justice in his reporting, Paul Wafula brings old school commitment to journalism to Defrontera
One of the most important goals at Defrontera’s news desk is to provide quality, evidence-based journalism that readers can use to make decisions in their day-to-day lives. Barely a year into the market, we have demonstrated this in our reporting on the impact of USAID on Kenya’s healthcare.
Now, we are happy to announce that Paul Wafula—a respected and award-winning investigative reporter—will join the team as a managing editor to realise this mission. In his role, he will oversee our global health coverage and other key organisational responsibilities. He will also have an expanded role in overseeing our strategic initiatives in audience engagement that will broaden the way we tell stories and the audiences we reach.
Known for his hands-on approach, Paul will still carry out his field reporting, with a remit that ranges from the business of healthcare—insurance, how budgets are allocated and utilised in the health system—to technology and how politics affects Kenya’s healthcare. A certified public accountant, Paul brings incisive analysis, especially on projects that “follow the money.” Barely a month into his position, Paul has already highlighted the uncertainty that tuberculosis patients will likely face due to the decline in funding.
This is not Mr. Wafula’s first rodeo in accountability journalism. He led the Toxic Flow investigative project that linked water pollution along the Nairobi River and Lake Victoria to a spike in diseases along the water corridor in Kenya and the rest of East Africa. Because of Mr. Wafula’s reporting, Kenya’s National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) shut down four firms for polluting the Nairobi River.
Defrontera’s Chief Executive and Brand Officer, Verah Okeyo, said, “In the times we live in, boots-on-the-ground journalists like Paul are important because they go beyond pointing society to what needs correcting; Paul follows up, asking questions until the correction is effected—and we are honoured to work with him at Defrontera.”
“Journalism must change the society we live in for the better. Today, more than ever, the East African region is crying out for incisive, in-depth, groundbreaking journalism,” Paul said.
Prior to joining Defrontera, Paul Wafula was the lead editor for Kenya’s premier business paper, Business Daily, owned by Nation Media Group. Paul was also an investigative reporter at Kenya’s oldest paper, The Standard. In addition to his hard-hitting investigative journalism, Paul was an Internews Fellow, sharpening his skills in data journalism in global health. Paul holds a BA in Media and Communications with IT from Maseno University and a CPA-K from Strathmore University.
Share this article