The Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications (AKU-GSMC), in partnership with the Wits Centre for Journalism, today opened the 22nd African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) in Nairobi, bringing together 450 investigative journalists from 50 countries across Africa and beyond.
The gathering marks a historic milestone, with Kenya becoming the first country outside South Africa to host the conference in its 22-year history. It brings together journalists, editors, trainers and other media professionals to explore critical issues shaping the future of investigative journalism, including artificial intelligence, open-source intelligence, data journalism, cross-border investigations, journalists’ safety and environmental reporting.
“At the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communication (AKU GSMC), we see strong investigative journalism as essential to a well-informed public and accountable societies,” said Nancy Booker, Professor and Dean at AKU GSMC. “Convening AIJC in Nairobi reflects our commitment to bridging the gap between the classroom and the newsroom and creating opportunities for the next generation of journalists to learn from experienced practitioners.”
This comes as the continent sees a resurgence of investigative journalism with the number of investigative journalism hubs gaining ground in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a study by Fojo Media Institute and Wits Journalism which identified 32 investigative journalism hubs across 19 of Sub-Saharan Africa’s 42 countries.
“The Wits Centre for Journalism is proud to partner with Aga Khan University to host AIJC 2026. This is the first time the conference will be held outside Johannesburg, and I am confident it will be a success, given Kenyan hospitality. AIJC is more than a place to network with colleagues committed to holding power to account. It also lets us showcase the impactful work of journalists operating in difficult conditions and highlight African journalists’ contribution to the world. We are grateful to the organisations around the globe whose support is helping make the conference possible,” said Dr Dinesh Balliah, Director of the Wits Centre for Journalism.
The three-day conference held at the Edge Convention Centre in Nairobi will feature a key session on “Kenya’s AI Health System That Makes the Poor Pay,” on 11 November in which reporters will examine how Kenya’s system for calculating public healthcare premiums was investigated.
About the African Investigative Journalism Conference
The African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) is an annual initiative of the Wits Centre for Journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Founded in 2004, it brings together investigative journalists, editors, trainers, and media professionals from Africa and beyond to share investigations, build practical skills, exchange ideas, and recognise excellence in journalism.
The 2026 edition, the conference’s 22nd, will take place in Nairobi from 10 to 12 November, with the Aga Khan University Graduate School of Media and Communications serving as the local convener in partnership with Wits.
