Kenyan journalist Brygettes Ngana’s powerful story on how USAID funding cuts have severely impacted HIV treatment centres across the country took second place at the recent Voices of Impact Awards.
Ngana was one of 24 recipients of a Wits Centre for Journalism (WCJ) investigative health reporting grant in 2025. This funding, along with support from Nation Media Group, enabled her team to travel to western Kenya to paint a vivid picture of the situation and speak with people directly impacted by funding cuts, where HIV services at public hospitals had once been fully funded by USAID.
“In Nakuru County, young people living with HIV have to pay a consultation fee of 200 shillings to access services,” says Ngana. “The closure of the HIV clinics at the public hospital made some of them uncomfortable seeking those same services in the integrated healthcare system due to the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV in Kenya.
“In Homa Bay County, a program supporting 40,000 vulnerable girls at risk of contracting HIV was abandoned, exposing them to the virus. The story brought national attention to the public health crisis posed by the lack of donor support on HIV programmes and how the national and county governments are responding to the funding cut,” she explains.
Kenya has since re-negotiated its donor-funded healthcare programmes with the United States.
The 24 health reporting grants issued to journalists last year form part of the WCJ’s continued efforts to bolster impactful and accountable journalism on the continent through the newly formed Africa Investigative Journalism Network.
Beyond providing financial aid, the Centre has also enlisted the services of seasoned South African editor Steven Lang, who provided editorial support and guidance to grantees in crafting their investigations.
“I remain grateful to Lang for his guidance,” says Ngana. “His attention to detail helped me fine tune the gaps my story had in the planning and execution phases. It took time for us to secure some of the interviews, especially from the government side, but the WCJ team helped us ensure we had covered all angles and provided solutions in our coverage.
“The recognition of our work at the Voices of Impact Awards is testament to the great work that the Wits Centre for Journalism does in empowering African storytellers like myself to tell African stories from an African perspective.”
WCJ Director Dr Dinesh Balliah congratulated Ngana on receiving the award.
“We are pleased to see impactful public interest journalism supported by WCJ reporting grants being recognised and rewarded in this way,” said Balliah. “Brygettes’ work shines a light on the devastating impact of the abrupt end to donor support for millions on our continent. The WCJ wishes her continued success in her work.”