Meet our team

Alphonce Shiundu joined Africa Check in January 2017 as Kenya editor. He was previously parliamentary editor of Standard Group Plc. Before then, he was a journalist at the Nation Media Group. He has experience and expertise in new media training, newsroom convergence and publishing technologies. He holds a masters degree in media and development from the University of Westminster, London; a bachelors in information sciences from Moi University in Kenya. He’s a Chevening scholar; an alumnus of the School of Authentic Journalism (Mexico), the Professional Fellows Exchange Programme (Washington DC), and the Young African Leaders Initiative (Nairobi). He believes in holding power to account. In his free time, he climbs mountains.

Dancan Nanyanga Bwire is a creative writer and an enthusiast of international affairs. He joined Africa Check as a research intern in February 2019 and has been working as a researcher at Africa Check since August 2019. He holds a master of arts degree in international studies from the University of Nairobi and a bachelor’s degree in journalism and communication from Maasai Mara University in Kenya. Dancan has previously had internships at the Kenya News Agency, Consolata Media Centre and has written on security, entertainment and human-wildlife conflict. Prior to joining Africa Check, he worked with The Standard Group Plc as a graduate trainee with sub-editing roles on the Standard digital platform.

Grace Wairimu Gichuhi is a storyteller, writer who always aims at informing the misinformed and tell stories with accuracy and fairness. She holds a bachelor degree in linguistics, media and communications from Moi University, Kenya. Prior to joining Africa Check in June 2019 as research intern and researcher since December 2019, she was a graduate trainee at Standard Media Group Plc where she worked as a sub-editor for the standard digital platforms. In between posts, she has also worked as an editor and proofreader for Techish (an online platform that provides the public with insightful tech opinion pieces and gives honest technological gadget reviews). Grace has also previously worked as a volunteer News anchor at Kenya Television Service (a school-based T.V. station).

David Ajikobi joined Africa Check as Nigeria editor in November 2016. He was previously an Editor/Producer at Channels Television with about a decade of experience across different media platforms. He was one of the pioneer News Editors/Producers at 99.3 Nigeria Info, 96.9 Cool FM and 95.1 Wazobia FM in Lagos. Earlier in his career, he was Metro Editor at NEXT Newspaper (234next.com) published by African-born Pulitzer Prize winner, Dele Olojede. David has a bachelor’s degree in zoology at the University of Lagos and a masters degree in media and communications with distinctions, from the Pan Atlantic University, Lagos.

Motunrayo Joel joined Africa Check as Nigeria deputy editor/health researcher in February 2018. She has a deep understanding of Nigeria's health sector. Prior to joining Africa Check, she worked at Punch Newspaper where she won awards including the Nigeria Academy of Science award. She has certificates in early childhood education and disability reporting. She holds a masters degree in international human resource management from Rome Business School, and a bachelor of arts in journalism from Midrand Graduate Institute (now called Eduvos), Johannesburg.

Allwell Okpi joined Africa Check as researcher and community manager in January 2018. As a trained journalist, his newsroom experience spans eight years: reporting and editing at NEXT Newspaper and PUNCH Newspaper. Allwell has also led content development for leading strategic communications consulting firms in West Africa – C&F Porter Novelli and Chain Reactions Nigeria (an Edelman affiliate) – and in those roles, helped develop and deploy strategies for consumer marketing, advocacy campaigns, media relations and crisis communication. He has a masters degree in marketing and communication from Rome Business School; a bachelors degree in geology from the Federal University of Technology Minna; and certificates in digital journalism from Reuters; public relations from the Metropolitan School of Business and Management, UK; persuasive writing and public speaking from Harvard University, and leadership from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.   

Catherine Adeniyi is a Researcher at Africa Check and has been with the organisation since 2020, first as an Editorial project coordinator, and then as a Junior researcher. Before joining Africa Check, she was a content developer at Cloudware Technologies. In this role, she wrote website copies, built and managed websites using WordPress, organised and delivered training, managed IT projects, created content and managed social media platforms. Her extensive journalism background includes positions as a news reporter, producer and on-air personality at Diamond FM, University of Ibadan and Ekiti State Broadcasting Service. Catherine holds a bachelor of arts degree in mass communication from Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State and a masters degree in mass communication from the University of Lagos.

Lee Mwiti has been editor-in-chief of Africa Check since July 2019, having joined as deputy editor in 2016. 
He has experience of covering Africa's geopolitical economy, having previously been deputy editor of the pan-African Mail and Guardian Africa and a senior Africa-focused writer at the Nation Media Group - east and central Africa’s largest media house. Lee holds a Master's degree in International Studies from the University of Nairobi, a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences and a Diploma in Journalism. A recovering pedant and a failed polymath, he does maintain a keen interest in artificial intelligence and in the belief systems of disinformation.

Cayley Clifford joined Africa Check as Deputy Chief Editor in May 2022, having previously occupied a research role within the organisation since 2018. She has experience fact-checking important claims around migration, crime and health in South Africa, and also enjoys investigating social media scams. Prior to joining Africa Check, Cayley worked at the South African Institute of International Affairs where she led the programme on Russia-Africa relations. She has a first-class master's degree in international relations from the University of the Witwatersrand.

Keegan Leech graduated from Makhanda’s Rhodes University in 2019, with a Bachelor of Science degree in English literature, applied mathematics, and physics and electronics. He started working as an Africa Check researcher in February of 2020. Although his degree focused heavily on science and physics, he has a passion for all kinds of research and discovery, and spends much of his free time reading and learning new things. He is a nerd, dog person, and a lover of poetry. His research interests include popular science and the environment.

Taryn Khourie holds a bachelor's degree majoring in English literature and media studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, and an honours degree in media studies from UNISA. She joined Africa Check in April 2019 as a research intern and has worked up to become Africa Check's data and project researcher in November 2022. Among her duties, Taryn manages the "What's Crap on WhatsApp?" project. She enjoys playing several instruments, painting and spending quality time with her family. She is also a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society, where she was awarded the Professor Jeff Johnston Study Abroad Scholarship.

Ester Levinrad joined Africa Check in June 2019. She has worked as a magazine journalist and as an editor and publisher in the book trade across a variety of genres, from poetry and memoir to cookbooks and financial self-help. She holds degrees from the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University.

Valdez Onanina is a journalist. Since September 2022, he has led Africa Check’s Francophone office, which he joined in 2016 before holding various positions, including Deputy Editor-in-Chief. A former reporter for the Senegalese Press Agency and Côte d’Ivoire’s Alerte Info, he also worked at the United Nations Information Center in Dakar. He holds a Master’s degree in Media and Communication and an MBA in Political Communication and Influence Strategies. He is a research associate at the GIRMEC laboratory of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar. His work focuses on disinformation in the Sahel and the impact of false information across digital and physical spheres. He has long advocated for public access to information in Africa.

Dieynaba Thiombane joined Africa Check in July 2019. Her work is mainly focused on fact checking on Facebook. Dieynaba holds bachelors degree in Journalism and Communication from Centre d’Etudes des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information (CESTI) in Dakar. She studied Modern Literature at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar and was a reporter-trainee for the daily Le Soleil. She was also editor for Senagriculture, specialising in agriculture, livestock and agribusiness.

Ass Momar Lô joined Africa Check in October 2018 as an editorial assistant and part-time contributor, and was promoted to the full researcher position in October 2021. He holds a master degree in English studies from University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar as well as a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Communication from the national journalism school Centre d’Études des Sciences et Techniques de l’Information (CESTI) in Dakar. Momar is fond of radio, which was his specialization in his early career in journalism. By the way, he has produced several radio investigations that have won national and international awards. In 2019, he obtained a special diploma in Leadership in Public Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as part of the YALI (Young African Leaders Initiative) program.