Details of Asha Mwilu's New Media Company After Quitting Citizen TV

Debunk Media founder Asha Mwilu posing for a photo in October 2016.
Debunk Media founder Asha Mwilu posing for a photo in October 2016.
Asha Mwilu / Twitter

Investigative reporter Asha Mwilu on Wednesday, July 1, launched her own media house after quitting Citizen TV in May 2020.

Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the award-winning journalist disclosed that she had been thinking about venturing out to produce 'cool' content for African audiences and that is why she founded Debunk Media.

"Debunk Media is a team of journalists, data scientists, filmmakers, illustrators and animators. There's even a doctor on the team. With our combined expertise, we are using storytelling to make sense of the big issues affecting our audiences," she explained.

Mwilu, who will also double up as the lead editor noted that the trends in how people were consuming content were changing and thus there was a need to cater to that demand.

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"Content from international media is refined but it doesn't really represent Kenya and the African continent as a whole. We have so much information competing for our attention daily. Many times we need to break everything down and discover why it matters to us.

"Through compelling storytelling and evidence-based journalism, we at Debunk Media want to explore new ways of helping you better understand the big events that shape your life," she added.

In a teaser of things to come from their digital platforms, the channel will delve into taboo issues like the use of Bhang as well as interview celebrities such as rapper Octopizzo and music producer Eric Musyoka.

Also in the cards is a limited podcast series over the current Covid-19 pandemic where they shall be delving into the implications of reopening the country with Dr Patrick Gatua.

A graphic for the podcast on Covid-19 by Debunk Media
A graphic for the podcast on Covid-19 by Debunk Media

The current team comprises of Sheila Munyiva who's a trained producer and Director, Wakini Njogu (Data journalist and Producer), Charlie Karumi (NRG Radio presenter), Peris Mureithi (CNN journalism Fellow), Juliete Atellah (Data and Investigative journalist at TheElephant.info and an OCCRP Fellow), Whiteney Muhadi (Content Creator), Patrick Gatua (a new-age digital journalist with a background in the medical field) and Earnest Kilonzo.

"The team we are launching with is currently based in Kenya but over time we shall be collaborating with experts from around the continent to get an in-depth analysis of stories that connect the region," she stated.

The Debunk team led by former Citizen TV reporter Asha Mwilu.
The Debunk team led by former Citizen TV reporter Asha Mwilu.

Mwilu joins other journalists who have chosen to branch out, starting up their own media houses.

Investigative reporter John Allan Namu left KTN in 2015 and started his own media house known as Africa Uncensored which focused on investigative features, while Alex Chamwada produced his well-known Daring Abroad Series under the Chams Media label.