Roselyne Anyango Okumu

ROSELYNE A. OKUMU, MScN (ONCOLOGY), PHD (C), UON

Lecturer Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

President Oncology Nurses Society of Kenya (ONS-K)

Email: roselyne.okumu2016@gmail.com

Professional Profile: Roselyne Anyango Okumu

Roselyne A. Okumu is an outstanding Oncology Nurse Specialist, Educator, and Researcher with  18 years of experience dedicated to transforming cancer care landscapes. Currently serving as the President of the Oncology Nurses Society of Kenya (ONS-K), she is a visionary leader committed to advancing nursing excellence, multidisciplinary collaboration, and patient-centered care across the African continent and beyond.

As a scholar-practitioner, Roselyne is a PhD candidate at the University of Nairobi, where her research focuses on quality improvement and empowering nurses to provide specialized care during the complexities of cancer treatment. Her academic contributions extend to her role as a Lecturer at JKUAT College of Health Sciences. Her global perspective is backed by prestigious fellowships, including the Africa CDC Mental Health Leadership Programme (2025) and the Global Bridges Multidisciplinary Cancer Control Program at Mayo Clinic, USA (2024). She also holds specialized certifications from Stanford Healthcare in Quality Improvement and the WHO/AFRA in Cervical Cancer Prevention.

Roselyne’s clinical and administrative track record is marked by pioneering health system re-engineering. During her tenure as the Nurse Manager at the CTC, KNH, she successfully overhauled the chemotherapy administration program and established a robust nursing radiotherapy framework. Her leadership in implementing the ChemoSafe training in Kenya and developing patient navigation programs has as well as cancer screening and awareness outreaches significantly improved treatment safety and accessibility. These initiatives reflect her ultimate vision: creating a seamless, end-to-end journey for every cancer patient.

Beyond the clinic, Roselyne is a pivotal figure in national policy and international advocacy. She provides essential technical support to the Ministry of Health and the National Cancer Institute of Kenya, contributing to strategic planning and the development of national guidelines. Her research interest  is diverse, spanning symptoms management’s management, genomics, and mental health integration, the latter of which she currently addresses as a co-lead on a Pfizer-funded study to equip nurses with mental health  support skills.

On the global stage, Roselyne represents the nursing profession on the Nairobi City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) Executive Committee and the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC) Membership Development Committee. Through strategic partnerships with organizations such as CANO/ACIO, KESHO, and NNAK, she continues to advocate for a strengthened oncology workforce and the elimination of the social and systemic barriers to quality cancer care.