By Swift Publications Staff Writer
Every defender who knows their fallback position or their escape route when things get tough, the enthusiasm and the dedication they would use to do their work are immeasurable.
For over 25 years, WITNESS has enabled human rights defenders and civic journalists, and now increasingly anyone, anywhere to use video and technology to protect and defend human rights and share trustworthy information.
WITNESS, according to information available on their website, indicates that the explosion of access to video, online social networks, and mobile technology over the last decade has been accompanied by a set of opportunities and challenges for individuals and communities who work to advance justice and accountability around the world.
“In today’s information ecosystem, these digital tools have the potential to increase civic engagement and participation – particularly for marginalized and vulnerable groups – enabling civic witnesses, journalists, and ordinary people to document abuse, speak truth to power, make their voices heard, and protect and defend their rights. Unfortunately, bad actors are utilizing the same tools to spread misinformation, identify and silence dissenting voices, disrupt civil society and democracy, perpetuate hate speech, and put individual rights defenders and journalists at risk,” the website reads.
About the current training
In a quiet corner of Nairobi’s leafy suburbs, a group of twelve investigative journalists gathered around laptops, camera kits, and mapping software — their focus intense, their conversations buzzing with ideas that could change the way truth is told across the world, but this time in East Africa.
They were there for one mission: to learn how to fortify community truth in a world increasingly threatened by disinformation and manipulated visuals. The week-long workshop, organized by WITNESS, marked the launch of the Fortifying Community Truth Cohort East Africa, a continuation of a bold global initiative first unveiled in 2024.
The first cohort to gain from this illustrious venture was a group of 17 investigative journalists from West and Central Africa who gathered in Ghana for the same cause.
The project’s pilot phase, launched in West and Central Africa, had already proven transformative.
The journalists and activists from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Ghana, and Cameroon have since developed homegrown projects that have trained over 200 others, producing new investigative databases, university verification clubs, and human rights exposés that have reached millions through traditional and digital media.
“When trust in the media is under attack, truth must find new defenses,” says Nkem Agunwa, Senior Program Manager for Africa at WITNESS. “We stand with journalists, equipping them with new video-based strategies to fortify the truth.”
The Nairobi Training of Trainers brought together reporters from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo for an intensive three-day exploration of geospatial analysis, data extraction, open-source verification, and archiving.
The Power of OSINT and Community Storytelling
“Gathering, analysing, verifying, and visualising open-source audiovisual material can reveal hidden patterns of violation,” explained Georgia Edwards, Program Coordinator for Evidence & Investigations at WITNESS. “These processes build a counter-narrative that strengthens communities’ fight for justice.”
For many participants, this wasn’t just another training — it was a turning point.
Derrick Wandera, an investigative journalist from Uganda, told Swift Publications that the experience was “transformative.”
“The training deepened my understanding of how open-source intelligence can be used to verify human rights violations in real time,” Wandera said. “It has equipped me with the tools to tell stories that are both credible and community-centered — especially in environments where truth is often contested.”
As part of the program, the cohort members will continue to receive mentorship over the next 12 months to design projects tailored to their countries’ realities — from documenting election violence to archiving stories of marginalized communities.
“By strengthening their collecting and archiving processes, investigative journalists can better defend the truths they uncover from denial or dismissal,” added Yvonne Ng, Senior Program Manager for Archives at WITNESS.
A Celebration of Connection and Purpose
The workshop culminated in a warm, laughter-filled dinner that blended East Africa’s culinary richness with camaraderie. As the sun dipped behind the Nairobi skyline, the participants gathered around long tables laden with a variety of meats, including roasted goat, pork, beef, turkey, ostrich, and rabbit, as well as grilled tilapia, vegetable stews, and tropical fruit platters, all accompanied by fresh mango juice and Kenyan tea.
It was more than just a meal — it was a celebration of shared purpose. Conversations flowed easily, stories from fieldwork turned into laughter, and a sense of collective mission filled the air. For many, it marked not just the end of a workshop, but the beginning of a movement.
“By centering communities and honouring their knowledge, we are building resilience against synthetic media that undermines trust in authentic video evidence,” said Adebayo Okeowo, Associate Director of Programs at WITNESS.
The Road Ahead
As the Fortifying Community Truth initiative expands, its impact is already being felt across borders. From bustling cities to remote villages, journalists are learning that defending truth is not just about technology — it’s about community, accountability, and courage.
Through projects like this, WITNESS continues to remind the world that when the truth is under threat, the defense begins with those brave enough to document it.
