Africa Uncensored

When I started looking into the Proxy Means Testing (PMT) model used to calculate premiums for Kenya’s Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF), for those without formal pay slips, those in the Jua Kali sector, my initial instinct was simple: check for bias. That’s what any statistician would do. But I needed the help of Gabriel Geiger so we could investigate it through a journalistic lens. After Daniel Howden agreed that GG could collaborate with me on this , I pitched the idea to John-Allan Namu, who then brought Joy Kirigia into the fold. What began as a technical audit soon spiraled into an investigation into the "black box" of Kenyan social policy. Crofton Black was then assigned as the editor for the investigation. The rest was a meaningful and fulfilling roller coaster!!!! Okay I didn’t expect how deep it would run. Our findings were stark: Among other interesting patterns we observed, a massive share of Kenya’s poorest households would be systematically overcharged. Not because they can afford it, but because the system fails to recognize just how little they have. That’s not just a technical flaw. For me, it’s personal. Twenty years ago, my family would have been in that overcharged bracket. We were among the poorest families in our village. Had this model existed then, we would have been quietly locked out of healthcare, education, and every rung of the ladder that allowed me to become the person I am today. So, this work stopped being just about models and metrics. This project changed me. In my nine years of journalism; even while working on projects such as Pandora Papers, FinFiles, and Dubai Unlocked, among others I had never pursued a story with this level of fervour. I sacrificed more than having my identity on camera. I agreed to do things I found impossible before. I realized I wasn't just a reporter on this story; I was one of them. I refuse to accept that a country that once opened the doors of education to my siblings and me is now building digital barriers that shut the poorest out of healthcare, with little sense of transparency or accountability. And this is not happening just in education and healthcare sectors, but in agriculture and even security. Suddenly, I wasn't just looking at an "error rate." I was looking at a child whose entire future could be erased by a flawed algorithm. Behind every data point is a person. Behind every error is a life. I hope this project will make sure they are counted. I am only being a hummingbird, doing the little I can. I am forever grateful for Naipanoi Lepapa and every member at Lighthouse Reports and Africa Uncensored who generously contributed to this project. I am also grateful for Serah Wesonga who reassured and guided us though FOIA requests that were sent by Joy Kirigia. Please find all the products from this investigation, neatly packaged and hyperlinked here https://lnkd.in/dP3FfbNJ

Still reeling about everything I learnt during this fellowship, #AIinthenewsroom 🥳💃🏾!I continue to harness those skills and build my bot #NexusNewsroom, which will be up and running, very soon. This was beyond worth it! Thank you once again DW Akademie, Africa Uncensored and Odipo Dev. A special thank you to Mwende Mukwanyaga and @Lilian Mutinda you guys were magical, I value the mentorship on this journey.

Are you prepared to up your technical skills to enhance editorial processes? Go from simple AI experimentation to the development of robust, bespoke workflows. ➡️ Our partner Africa Uncensored is seeking fellows for its second Cohort of the AI in the Newsroom Fellowship 2026! Apply by 30th April 2026! More info ⤵️ https://lnkd.in/e5qYU9_e