West Pokot nurse becomes first Kenyan to win Human Rights and Nursing Award

The 2025 edition of the Awards, which took place at the University of Turku, Finland, saw Kanyang'areng and Marianne Olander receive the notable recognition for their impact in promoting human rights.

The Nursing Ethics journal presents the awards to two nurses yearly in recognition of their commitment to human rights.

Since 2001, they have primarily focused on nurses working on projects such as innovative care, social advocacy and teaching health care personnel.  

In his acceptance speech, Kanyang'areng expressed gratitude for the award, which recognises his two-decade experience as a nurse. 

"This recognition empowers me to intensify my efforts to raise awareness and improve healthcare access for neglected diseases," Luke stated. 

His passion emanated from a harrowing experience in his youth, when he nearly lost his life to visceral leishmaniasis, also known as kala-azar, a neglected tropical disease and the second deadliest parasitic killer after malaria.

He endured a gruelling 30-day treatment followed by a painful recovery, an ordeal that sparked his determination to enter the medical field.

Years later, he became a nurse at the very hospital that had once saved his life.

"I wanted to understand how to care for vulnerable patients, and to dedicate my life to ensure others do not suffer as I did. Each patient I’ve cared for has reminded me of my own journey."

He has vowed to use the recognition to conduct community outreach in neglected areas on the weekends, focusing on health-based discussions that focus on preventing leishmaniasis.