Rachel Kitonyo Devotsu is a lawyer who has over 20 years of experience in tobacco and cancer control ranging from advocacy for tobacco control legislation in Kenya, building capacity of civil society organisations in 10 Sub-Saharan African countries to advocate for adoption and implementation of tobacco control laws within their countries, training over 500 government policy makers and enforcement agents on adoption and implementation of cancer control measures at a regional and global level.

She helped found the Kenya Tobacco Control Alliance and was the first Chair of the African Tobacco Control Alliance. She has also helped non-governmental organisations in Botswana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Zambia secure program funding, and worked with WHO and other organisations to convene meetings that helped develop tobacco control action plans in 15 countries.

Rachel’s work covers regulation of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy food.

Rachel is based in Nairobi, Kenya. She leads the components of the McCabe Centre’s training and capacity building programs that relate to the African region and provides technical support to governments and alumni in the African Region.

Rachel was the recipient of a WHO World No Tobacco Day Award in 2020 in recognition of her tobacco control efforts in the African region.

Publications:

Harnessing law for global noncommunicable disease control: evaluating a legal training program, 2014–23

Tobacco smoking-attributable mortality in Kenya 2012–2021

Litigation in tobacco control: past, present and future

https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Rachel-Kitonyo-Devotsu-2216172540