Rebecca Miano

Rebecca Wambui Miano is a Kenyan lawyer, currently a nominee for the position of Attorney General of Kenya, has served as the Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade & Industry since October 2023. She is a former Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, the ASALs and Regional Development.Before joining Cabinet, she served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of KenGen Plc., the largest producer of electricity in the East African region from November 2017. She was confirmed on 1 November 2017, having served in acting capacity since August 2017.

Background and education
Miano holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Nairobi and attended the Advocates Training Programme at the Kenya School of Law She also holds a Master of Laws in Comparative Law, awarded by the Australian National University.

Career in the private sector
Miano first worked at a Nairobi-based law firm, "Musyoka Annan & Company Advocates". Later, she worked at "Slater and Gordon", a law firm in Queensland, Australia. In 1998, she joined Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), as assistant legal officer. Over time, she rose in rank to become assistant company secretary. At the time of her promotion to Acting Managing Director, in August 2017, she was the Director of Legal Affairs and Company Secretary at KenGen, serving in both roles since 2008.

In November 2017, Miano beat 90 other applicants and was appointed to her position, replacing the retiring Albert Mugo.  At the time, she was the first and only female chief executive at KenGen. By 2017, she was one of the only two women in Kenya who lead a parastatal company, the only other woman being MaryJane Mwangi, the chief executive officer of National Oil Corporation of Kenya.

Timeline

 * 2022-2023: Appointment as Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of East African Community, Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), and Regional Development.


 * 2023- 11 July 2024- Cabinet Secretary for Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry. Dismissed from the cabinet, alongside others, following the 2024 Kenya Finance Bill protests.
 * July 19, 2024: Named as the nominated Attorney General of Kenya, despite a significant time gap in her legal practice.

Allegations of Financial Misconduct
After the end of her tenure at KenGen, Miano was accused of financial impropety stemming from unexplained procurent and financial irregularities that would contribute to Kenya's worsening energy woes such as high consumption costs by consumers and high losses by the company.

Other activities
Miano is a member of the Law Society of Kenya, and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Secretaries of Kenya.

Recognition

 * In 2010, Miano was decorated with the Order of the Grand Warrior of Kenya in recognition of her body of work.


 * In August 2020, her leadership and corporate governance was awarded in the African Business Leadership Awards by African Leadership Magazine she won under the African Inspirational Business Leadership Award Category.
 * Miano was appointed by the World Bank Group as a participating member to the Advisory Council on Gender and Development in June 2021 where she was to serve a-two-year-term.