Defrontera welcomes Anne Mawathe as Editor-in-Chief
With over 20 years in journalism—including roles at international media houses like Reuters and the British Broadcasting Corporation—Anne brings the leadership and vision to turn evidence into journalism that brings change, combining traditional boots-on-the-ground reporting with innovative storytelling techniques.
We are proud to announce that Anne Mawathe, one of Africa’s most prolific global health journalists and editorial leaders, has officially joined Defrontera as our Editor-in-Chief.
Anne brings more than two decades of experience and a stellar résumé in journalism. She served as Africa’s Visual Producer at Reuters, was the founding Health Editor for BBC Africa, and previously held a senior editorial role at Citizen TV. Anne has also been honoured at the CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards for excellence in reporting.
Anne has expressed her optimism in joining the team.
“In a world where algorithms and bias render some people invisible, Defrontera is doing the kind of journalism the world needs more of—journalism that sees people, informs and actively participates in seeking the wellbeing of the people,” she said.
Anne’s editorial mandate is clear here at Defrontera: she is to turn evidence— what Kenya ranks among the top 10 in Africa for—into public-impact stories that reach and inform decision-makers in healthcare and affected communities.
She will lead Defrontera in producing rigorous, data-driven journalism that addresses some of the most urgent public health questions of our time. From maternal deaths in rural counties to the collapse of donor-funded health systems, Anne will ensure our stories are grounded in evidence, combining the old-school boots-on-the-ground reporting with innovative approaches that maximise reach and impact.
Defrontera is one of the very few journalism non-profits in Kenya, and this is both daunting and full of possibility. With Anne at the helm, we are seizing this opportunity to build editorial systems that not only deliver high-quality journalism but also nurture a new generation of global health journalists.
We are thrilled to have her on board as we grow into Africa’s most trusted platform for global health journalism.
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