The Willow Story
July 2020
Concept Development
Willow Concept Note Created During COVID-19
Concept Note for comprehensive digital health communication is developed at the height of Covid-19 by two Standard Group Editors: Dr Mercy Korir and Kamau Mutunga.
October 2022
Founding Discussions
Founders Meet in Nairobi to Address Health Communication Gap
Three media practitioners: Dr Mercy Korir, Kamau Mutunga and Andrew Kipkemboi and one medical researcher, Dr Moses Masika met at a Nairobi Restaurant in Upperhill to explore ways of filling a gap in health communication identified during Covid-19 Pandemic in 2020. Kipkemboi, however, leaves to pursue other private interests.
January – December 2023
Funding Search
Boots-to-the-ground, scouting for funding.
January 2024
Proposal Development
Willow Grant Proposal Submitted to the Gates Foundation
The Willow Concept Note is polished, and grant proposal submitted to The Gates Foundation.
February 2024
Mentorship
Strategic Mentorship Session with Mia Malan of Bhekisisa
Online mentorship meeting with Mia Malan of Bhekisisa, a non-profit media organisation based in South Africa.
March 2024
Editorial Framework
Willow Editorial Policy Guidelines Developed
Willow Editorial Policy Guidelines crafted.
May 2024
Legal Registration
Willow Health Media Officially Registered as an NGO
Willow officially registered under the then, NGO Act. The ‘Willow Story Pitch’ is adopted for guiding content development.
July 2024
First Grant
Willow Receives Initial Funding from the Gates Foundation
Willow gets its first grant from The Gates Foundation with a staff of 3 – the Editor-in-Chief & CEO, Content Architect and Digital Editor.
August 2024
Digital Launch Preparation
August 2024
Governance
First Willow Board Meeting Held
Willow gets its first grant from The Gates Foundation with a staff of 3 – the Editor-in-Chief & CEO, Content Architect and Digital Editor.
September 2024
First Publication
Willow Publishes Its First Health Policy Story
The first story, announcing Dr Abdi Mohammed as Chair of Social Health Authority (SHA) is published on Willow’s social media platforms.
September 2024
Office Setup
Willow Secures Office Space and Begins Setup
Office lease signed and partitioning starts.
October 1, 2024
Official Launch
Willow Website Goes Live and Team Expands
Willow website goes live. Employees grow to 8 – including four contributing writers and Operations Manager. Staff move to the new office.
December 2024
Board Leadership
Pamella Makotsi-Sittoni Joins Willow Board and Chairs Editorial Committee
Pamella Makotsi-Sittoni joins the Willow Health Media Board, selected as Chair of the Editorial Committee.
January 2025
Team Development
First Staff Retreat Held at Lake Elementaita
First staff retreat at Lake Elementaita Mountain Lodge, Nakuru County.
January 2025
International Collaboration
Willow Team Benchmarks with Bhekisisa in South Africa
Willow team visits Bhekisisa in Johannesburg to learn from their 10 years in health journalism.
March 2025
Conference Coverage
Willow Covers AHAIC in Kigali, Rwanda
Willow team covers the Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC in Kigali, Rwanda.
March 2025
Global Media Partnership
Willow Participates in Global Media Convening in Madrid
Willow is part of participants during the Global Media Partnership Convening in Madrid, Spain under the aegis of the Gates Foundation.
April 2025
Global Syndication
Global African Times Syndicates Willow Story
Ghana syndicates our first story on hospital insecurity in Kenya.
May 2025
International Coverage
Willow Covers World Health Assembly in Geneva
Willow team covers the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland.
June 2025
Strategic Partnership
KEMRI Becomes Willow Training Partner
Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) becomes our first partner in training and incubating health practitioners into health journalism and public health communication.
September 2025
Conference Participation
Willow Team Attends CPHIA in Durban
Willow team attends the Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA) in Durban, South Africa.
October 2025
Anniversary
Willow Health Media First Anniversary
Willow Health Media turns one.
October 2025
Staff Recognition
Willow Journalists Win National Media Awards
Yvonne Kawira wins the FIDA Gender Responsive Reporter of the Year, while Asha Bekidusa wins the Environment, Climate Change and Health award and Kawira, again, wins the UHC and Health Technology Features Award.
November 2025
Audience Engagement
Launch of Willow WhatsApp Newsletters
Willow monthly and quarterly WhatsApp Newsletters are launched.
December 2025
Internal Recognition
Willow Launches Quarterly Excellence Awards
Willow launches the in-house Willow Quarterly Excellence Awards and ‘Wall of Fame’ with Joyce Mutheu’s winning story, taking the cake as the best feature of the quarter.
January 2026
Marking Milestones
Willow Celebrates First Anniversary
Willow celebrates its belated first anniversary with 25 staffers.
January 2026
Voices of Impact
Willow + MSI sign MOU
Willow Health Media and MSI Reproductive Choices Kenya signed an MoU to co-create data-driven communication and storytelling on sexual and reproduction health and rights.
February 2026
Media Partnership
ISSAD 2026 Media Partner
Willow Health Media was the media partner during the 4th International Sympossium on Streptococcus agalactiae Disease(ISSAD) held in Nairobi.
February 2026
Talent Development
Another Retreat in the Books!
We came together once again to learn, reflect, challenge ourselves and grow as a team. Every retreat leaves us sharper ideas, stronger relationships and renewed purpose for the work ahead.
May 2026
Thought Leadership
LEA-WH Fellowship Immersion Week
Willow Health Media was part of the leadership for innovation and execellence in Accelerating Research on Women’s Health(LEA-WH) Fellowship Programme, which provides a platform for engaging in conversations, advancing research, leadership and innovation in women’s health across Africa.
May 2026
Corridors of Power
EWENE Initiative Launch
We were honoured to be part of the launch of the EWENE Initiative at State House, Nairobi, alongside the Gates Foundation team and other key health stakeholders.
Led by the Ministry of Health, Kenya, the EWENE Campaign (Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere) is a step towards ending preventable maternal and newborn deaths through stronger partnerships, community engagement and better health systems.
May 2026
Journalist of the Year
Willow shakes Kenya's biggest journalism awards
Willow Health Media earns recognition at Kenya’s top journalism awards, AMEA 2026 With Christopher Kipsang bagging both the Journalist of the Year and Health Reporting awards, and Anthony Langat winning the Best Follow-Up Reporting award.
May 2026
Gold standard in Media
WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards 2026
At the WAN-IFRA Digital Media Awards Africa 2026, Willow Health Media received two continental honours, Best Emerging News Provider and Best Data Visualisation, for its work on The Vanishing Lifeline. For a newsroom built on evidence, innovation and public service journalism, the awards reinforced the growing impact of specialised health reporting across Africa.
June 2026
Global Exposure
WAN-IFRA Congress 2026
The Willow Health Media team attended the 77th WAN-IFRA World News Media Congress in Marseille, France, joining journalists, editors and media innovators from around the world to explore new approaches to storytelling and gain insights that can strengthen health journalism across Africa.
June 2026
Media Excellence
Voices of Impact Awards
Nathan Ochunge won the top digital prize with the story, Hanging by a Thread: ‘I don’t know how much longer the children can hold on’, which chronicled the collapse of the Child Programme in Bungoma County following the abrupt withdrawal of USAID funding last year. Accepting the award during the inaugural Voices of Impact Awards, Ochunge described the recognition as a testament to the power of human-centred health journalism.
June 2026
Societal Impact
50 Most Influential Women in Kenya
Willow Health Media CEO & Editor-in-Chief, Dr Mercy Korir, named among the 50 Most Influential Women in Kenya by Africapitol.
This recognition reflects her leadership in advancing evidence-based health journalism and her commitment to amplifying stories that shape health policy, inform public discourse and improve health outcomes.
