Rebecca Miano is a big name in President William Ruto’s cabinet. With a career spanning over 30 years, Miano has survived cabinet reshuffles and even the dismissal that was witnessed last year, following the nationwide protests that were organised by the youthful generation. This article focuses on her life and the controversies that she has been involved in.

Who Is Rebecca Miano?

The CS was born in 1966 in Ndaragua constituency, Nyandarua county in a family of 14 children. She began schooling in Ndaragua, and finished her 0 levels at Kapropita Girls, Baringo. She later proceeded to University of Nairobi to pursue a law degree. She undertook her leadership training at Harvard University. Additionally, she studied at Strathmore, Navara University in Spain as well as Australian National University where she pursued a Masters in Law.

After being admitted as an Advocate, she practised law for a few years before transitioning to the corporate world. At first she worked for Musyoka Annan and Company Advocates. She then joined a law firm in Australia. In 1998, she joined KenGen as an assistant legal  officer.

“When I moved to the corporate world, I think I found a calling for my career because I became a corporate lawyer, climbed up ladder to become a legal director and later company secretary,” she told KBC in a past interview.

In October 2017, Miano landed the position of Kengen Managing Director and CEO. She held the position till her appointment to cabinet by president William Ruto In September 2022.

At first, she was appointed as the cabinet secretary for EAC. She was then shifted to the Trade docket. After the dismissal of cabinet following the nationwide youthful protests in 2024, Miano was reappointed as the Attorney General but president Ruto shifted her to Tourism and Wildlife shortly afterwards.

Miano is married and together with her husband they have two children, a daughter and son. Her son, Peter Miano, tied the knot in a colourful ceremony early this year.

The CS however keeps her family life private but her husband is said to be an environmental expert and a businessman.

Scandals

1. LGBTQ

In an explosive tweet, Popular blogger Maverick Aoko claimed that Miano is in a romantic relationship with PS for State Department of wildlife Silvia Museiya.

Aoko claimed that they have been meeting at hotel, in Westlands and even displaying affection in public. She added that the CS was caught in a compromising situation with her PS in her office.

Aoko further threatened to drop videos to prove her allegation and demanded the CS to deliver for Kenyans.

Miano is yet to address the matter.

2. Man U Tshirt

Just days ago, Miano also found herself on the wrong side of netizens when she chose to wear a Manchester United T-shirt. Many accused her of being unpatriotic by promoting and endorsing a foreign football club yet she could have used the opportunity to promote a Kenyan football club.

3. Fertiliser scandal

While serving as Trade CS, Miano was under pressure to resign together with Mithika Linturi, who served as Agriculture CS then. The two were accused of “perpetuating economic sabotage by allowing repeated instances of fake fertiliser and seed scandals.”

4. Questionable Road contract

In May 2024, Miano was blasted for claiming that a Kenyan firm had been awarded a road construction contract. In her tweet, Miano, who was serving as Investments and Trade CS at the time, said that the Kenyan firm had been recruited to construct a 250km road to connect Antananarivo and Toamasina in Madagascar.

“Kenya is now exporting its services, expertise, technology and equipment to contribute to Africa economic integration  through infrstructure development. Kudos Kenya,” she said then.

Hawk eyed Kenyans however noted that her tweet did not capture the name of the said Kenyan company. Upon further digging, Kenyans discovered that the contract had been awarded to a Polish company identified as Gabeire A Group construction company, which is based in Somalia.

5. The KenGen controversy

In 2024, Miano faced allegations of procurement and financial irregularities during her time as KenGen CEO. She was accused of spending Kshs94 billion of taxpayers money on power generation projects that were ineffective. She was further accused of contributing to the nationwide blackouts that hit the country in 2024.