Dr. Mercy Korir is a medical doctor turned journalist currently serving as the Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, and Editor-in-Chief of Willow Health Media.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Mercy Korir was born in 1987 in Kapsoit village, Kericho County, and was raised by her mother, a police officer.
Growing up in a rural setting, she developed an early interest in medicine and excelled in school, eventually earning admission to Bahati Girls High School before joining the University of Nairobi (UoN) in 2006 to pursue a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree.
At university, she became actively involved in student leadership through the Association of Medical Students, where she helped establish and edit a student magazine, igniting a passion for communication that later shaped her journalism career.
She graduated as a medical doctor in 2011, later earning a Master of Arts in Communication from the University of Nairobi (UON) and a Master of Business Administration in Marketing and Finance from the United States International University-Africa (USIU-Africa).
Mercy Korir’s Career Journey
Dr. Mercy Korir began her professional career as a medical doctor after graduating from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degree in 2011.
Following her internship at Machakos Level Five Hospital, she worked in both public and private healthcare facilities, including Machakos County and The Nairobi Hospital, gaining hands-on experience in patient care, surgery, emergency medicine, and hospital management.
While practicing medicine, Dr. Korir developed a growing interest in communication and public engagement, a passion that eventually led her into journalism.
In 2017, she joined Standard Group as a health reporter and anchor at KTN News, where she specialized in reporting on public health issues, disease outbreaks, and healthcare policies.
Her career at Standard Group culminated in her appointment as Editor of the Health and Science Desk in 2020.
In this role, she established and led Kenya’s first multimedia Health and Science Desk, overseeing the production of content across television, radio, print, and digital platforms.
She also spearheaded nationwide health campaigns and conducted high-profile interviews with global figures, including philanthropist Bill Gates.
After leaving Standard Group in November 2022, Dr. Korir joined AAR Hospital as Business Development Manager, a position she held from November 2022 to April 2024, where she focused on strategic growth, partnerships, customer experience, and brand development.
She subsequently took a brief career break between May and July 2024 before co-founding Willow Health Media in August 2024.
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She currently serves as the organization’s Chief Executive Officer and Editor-in-Chief, leading efforts to strengthen independent health journalism and improve health literacy across Africa.
Awards and Recognition
Dr. Mercy Korir has received recognition for her contributions to health communication, journalism, and public service.
Her work gained national prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she played a key role in disseminating accurate health information to the public through mainstream media.
In 2020, she was awarded the Presidential Order of Service (Uzalendo Award), a national honor recognizing her contribution to Kenya’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic through health journalism and public awareness campaigns.
The same year, she was named Employee of the Year at Standard Group.
Dr. Korir is also a Fellow of the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), an international organization that supports journalism excellence and media leadership worldwide.
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