Odee Francis is a Kenyan investigative journalist who has built his career around investigations and human-interest stories that expose crime, human rights violations and social injustice
Currently an investigative reporter at Citizen TV, Odee boasts over 10 years of experience in broadcast journalism. His work has earned him recognition for investigations into human rights violations, gender-based violence, corruption and public health challenges.
He has worked across several Kenyan media houses, including KTN News and Ebru Africa TV.
From Ebru Africa to Royal Media Services
Odee’s career began at Ebru Africa TV, where he worked from 2017 to 2023 in various reporting roles including health, human-interest and investigative stories.
He later took on special projects and anchoring responsibilities, expanding his experience in broadcast journalism.
Additionally, he worked as a freelance reporter for Straight News TV, where he focused on health journalism and investigations. During this period, he continued producing feature stories on issues with direct implications for public welfare.
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In April 2023, Odee joined Standard Group PLC as an investigative reporter, a position he held until June 2024. He subsequently moved to Royal Media Services, where he joined the Citizen TV investigation unit.
At Citizen TV, his reporting focuses on systemic crime, human rights abuses and social injustices. His areas of interest include human trafficking, gender-based violence and high-level corruption.
One of his notable projects is In Death’s Workshop, an investigative series documenting the difficult realities surrounding Nairobi City Mortuary.
The series brought attention to the conditions and human experiences associated with death management.
Odee has also investigated international recruitment networks linked to the Russia-Ukraine war. The report exposed how hundreds of Kenyans have been lured to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, leaving their families in distress.
Building skills in investigative journalism
Odee’s prowess in broadcast journalism has been supported by training in media communication and open-source investigations.
He studied communication and journalism at the Kenya Institute of Professional Studies (KIPS College), between 2015 and 2017, earning a diploma that laid the foundation for his career in the media industry.
He later pursued further training at Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications between November 2021 and September 2022.
Through its Excellence in Journalism Programme, he received training in investigative journalism, data journalism, mobile storytelling and health journalism.
According to his LinkedIn profile, he is currently pursuing an Associate’s degree at the African Academy for Open Source Investigations, focusing on investigating disinformation and malign influence operations.
Awards and Recognition
Odee’s work has attracted recognition within Kenya’s media industry, notably in health reporting, investigative journalism and stories addressing social concerns.
One of his notable achievements is winning the African Journalist Gender Equality Award, making him the first male recipient of the award.
He has also received recognition through the Kuza Awards, including a finalist nomination for the 2019–2020 awards in the affordable housing and health categories linked to the Big Four Agenda.
In addition, Odee has received multiple nominations for the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards (AJEA), in health and crime reporting.
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