CNN International correspondent Larry Madowo has been named Human Rights Defender of the Year by the Defenders Coalition, a recognition of his journalism that exposes and amplifies marginalised voices across Africa.
The award cements a career built on prioritising media ethics amid growing threats to press freedom, including unprecedented physical and legal dangers.
While receiving the honour, the 38-year-old journalist pledged his entire Sh129,000 ($1,000) to support an emerging grassroots storyteller.
“I don’t consider myself a human rights defender, but I see my work as service to the people,” Madowo stated.
I was honored to accept my Human Rights Defender of the Year award today. Ahsante ?
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) May 27, 2026
It comes with $1,000 cash prize (Ksh129,000). I will donate it to a young journalist anywhere in Kenya who highlights issues in the community. Please nominate yourself or someone in the comments pic.twitter.com/OJx4GcPpBT
"I will donate it to a young journalist anywhere in Kenya who highlights issues in the community. Please nominate yourself or someone in the comments," he wrote on his social media platforms.
The Annual Human Rights Defenders Awards, launched in 2016 by the Defenders Coalition and the Working Group on Human Rights Defenders, is a protective and recognition initiative designed to honour individuals and collectives championing social justice in Kenya.
Held annually, the awards seek to publicly profile the extraordinary work of grassroots and national activists, enhance their safety through international visibility, and inspire upcoming change agents who often face severe reprisals and state repression
Throughout his career, Madowo has worked at the forefront of reporting and accountability.
His coverage of the 2024 Gen Z-led anti-government protests in Kenya, where he reported through tear gas and live fire, solidified his reputation for delivering live, uncompromised accounts of police crackdowns.
Beyond Kenya, he has challenged authoritarian moves in the region, notably criticizing Tanzania’s refusal to accredit independent reporters.
The Defenders Coalition praised Madowo’s work for doing more than documenting conflict, stating that it dismantles the propaganda that sustains oppression.
Social media users equally celebrated the announcement, with many congratulating him.