John-Allan Namu (born January 23, 1983) is a prominent Kenyan investigative journalist, media entrepreneur, and the co-founder and CEO of Africa Uncensored. Known for his fearless reporting on corruption, human rights abuses, and governance failures, Namu has established himself as a leading voice in African journalism, recognized internationally for his dedication to holding power to account and his commitment to in-depth, public-interest storytelling. Born to Arthur and Gertrude Namu, John-Allan Namu grew up in Nairobi, Kenya. He attended Strathmore School and St. Mary’s School for his primary and secondary education. He went on to pursue higher education at the United States International University (USIU) Africa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism in 2006. Later, he advanced his academic credentials with a Master’s degree in Media Leadership and Innovation from the Aga Khan University in Nairobi. Namu’s professional career began at the Kenya Television Network (KTN), where he started as an intern while still an undergraduate. He quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a reporter, news anchor, and features editor. During his tenure at KTN, Namu gained significant national prominence for his collaboration on "The Inside Story," a hard-hitting investigative series that uncovered systemic corruption and social injustices. His partnership with fellow journalist Mohammed Ali on investigative projects—often involving high-stakes, dangerous fieldwork—made them household names in Kenya, as they tackled topics ranging from tax evasion to criminal networks. After a brief stint at NTV, where he co-hosted "The County Edition" alongside Yvonne Okwara, Namu returned to KTN before ultimately deciding to carve out an independent path. In 2015, Namu co-founded Africa Uncensored alongside colleagues Kassim Mohammed and Mohammed Ali. The organization was established as an independent media house dedicated to long-form investigative documentaries, moving away from the constraints of mainstream newsrooms to focus exclusively on public interest journalism. Under his leadership as CEO and Editorial Director, Africa Uncensored has produced groundbreaking exposés that have sparked parliamentary probes and national policy changes. Notable investigations include "The Profiteers," which detailed illicit financial flows in South Sudan; "Fertile Deception," which exposed the circulation of counterfeit government-subsidized fertilizer; and his collaboration with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) on the "Pandora Papers," which investigated the financial dealings of the Kenyatta family. Throughout his career, Namu has received numerous accolades for his journalistic contributions. He was named the CNN/MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year in 2009 and has been recognized as the Journalist of the Year at the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards multiple times (2015, 2017). His international recognition includes winning the TRACE Prize for Investigative Reporting in 2019 and the prestigious International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) Knight International Journalism Award in 2024. In 2022, he was named the Human Rights Defender of the Year in Kenya by the Defenders Coalition. Beyond his reporting, Namu is a committed mentor who has trained hundreds of young journalists, fostering a new generation of reporters dedicated to rigorous fact-based storytelling. He is married to Sheena Makena Namu, and together they have four children. Namu continues to be a vocal advocate for press freedom, often speaking on the personal risks—including threats to his safety—that investigative journalists face in the pursuit of truth.