Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, an investigative journalist from Kenya is the winner of the Thomson Foundation’s Young Journalist Award 2025.
The 26-year-old—selected from 681 stories submitted by 227 journalists across 60 countries—said receiving the award was “an incredible honour and one that I receive with deep humility.”
Tracy was unable to travel to London for the Foreign Press Association (FPA) Awards due to delays in the visa process, but her acceptance remarks were shared with guests at the ceremony in a video message.
She paid tribute to the ordinary people who trust her with their stories and speak to her “not because it’s easy, but because they believe truth still has power.”
“Every story I tell carries their courage, their vulnerability and their hope,” she said.
Tracy impressed the judges with reporting that demonstrated rigour, persistence and a strong commitment to accountability journalism. In Blocked at the Bar, one of three stories she submitted for the competition, she investigated why hundreds of law students in Kenya were failing the bar exam. The judges highlighted Tracy's versatility, vibrancy and commitment to good journalism. "A very engaging all-rounder who tells hard-hitting stories about Kenyan life without sensationalism and in a very human and brave way", they said.
We are living in a moment where misinformation and disinformation travel faster than verified facts
She shared with the audience, which included some of the world’s leading journalists, how she has seen the spread of misinformation impact real lives in Kenya, destroying reputations, silencing voices and undermining democracy. “We are living in a moment where misinformation and disinformation travel faster than verified facts”, she said, praising the courage of those who continue to speak out to journalists. “Their bravery is the heartbeat of my work, and this recognition belongs to them just as much as it belongs to me.”
The view from the judges
The shortlist for the Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award is judged by an external panel from the Foreign Press Association Awards. This year’s panel included: Paola De Carolis, a journalist at Corriere della Sera, one of Italy’s oldest and most influential daily newspapers; Peter Knowles of CSpan, USA and Niaz Alam of the Dhaka Tribune.
They praised the high standard of entries and the level of determination shown across the submissions. “All three of us really enjoyed the wide range of entries and the energy and skills of these young journalists, whose journey in the world of journalism we will continue to follow with a keen interest,” said Paola. “We are in no doubt that they will reach an ever-expanding audience”.
About the Young Journalist Award
The Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award is run in partnership with the UK Foreign Press Association (FPA). The annual award is open to journalists aged 30 and under from countries with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of less than USD20,000. Applicants submitted three stories from the 12 months preceding the deadline for entry, for consideration by the judges. The shortlist is selected based on a criteria which includes originality, endeavour, interest to audiences and anticipated or actual impact.
The winner is announced at the FPA Awards ceremony each November in London.
