Energy Business Guru Rebecca Miano reaps big on recent cabinet reshuffle

Speaking after the reshuffle was announced, she expressed her gratitude for serving at the helm of the EAC ministry and extended her thanks to President Ruto.

After numerous reports by research firms ranking her among the worst-performing Cabinet Secretaries, Rebecca Miano was moved from the Ministry of East African Community, the ASALs, and Regional Development to the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry.

Miano replaces Moses Kuria in the Trade docket in a Cabinet reshuffle by President William Ruto, with Kuria’s reshuffle making most of the headlines given his brash demeanor, especially on social media.

Speaking after the reshuffle was announced, she expressed her gratitude for serving at the helm of the EAC ministry and extended her thanks to President Ruto.

“I am grateful for the incredible journey at the helm of the Ministry of East African Community, the ASALs & Regional Development. Thank you H.E President William Ruto for the trust and invaluable opportunity.

“It is with honour and humility that I assume my new assignment at the Ministry of Investments, Trade & Industry. I remain dedicated to advancing our nation’s growth, as envisioned in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, and delivering progress to the people of Kenya. So help me God,” she wrote on X.

Miano has amassed over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, earning recognition in the continent as a business leader.

The award-winning corporate guru is an expert in different areas including the renewable energy sector, structuring global business projects, and making regulatory frameworks for sustainable development.

Miano is credited with including business law, corporate governance, and policy development.

Before being appointed a CS, Miano served as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kenya Electricity Generating Company PLC (KenGen), a position she has held since October 2017.

“She is focused on growing KenGen’s footprint in geothermal development across Africa, and under her leadership, the company has successfully implemented several large geothermal projects in the continent,” KenGen describes her achievement.

Miano also founded the Pink Energy forum in KenGen to address female and gender parity to close the gap within the company.

Previously, from 2008 to 2017, she was the Company Secretary and Legal Affairs Director.

She is a respectable lawyer with a career in law and corporate governance and has been responsible for driving the corporate governance agenda in the company, providing guidance and support to the Board, and has been the Secretary to the Board and all its Committees.

Miano has been recognized by different global institutions, celebrating her contribution to the energy sector. In November 2019, she was appointed to the Board of Global Compact Network.

Seven months later, in July 2020, she joined the World Bank Group’s Advisory Council on Gender and Development.

She has also served on the Finance Committee of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and is a member of several boards alongside chairing the giant Stima Sacco Board.

In 2010, the KenGen CEO won the Company Secretary of the Year award in the Champions of Governance Awards series.

Her exemplary leadership saw former President Uhuru Kenyatta confer her the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (MBS) in recognition of her outstanding service to the nation in 2019.

Miano will also ensure that Kenya derives maximum benefit from international trade relations and that domestic trade is conducted in a smooth and orderly manner. Furthermore, it is her responsibility and that of her Ministry to strengthen trade relations with all friendly countries on a most favored nation basis.

However, arguably Miano’s toughest task will be to bring sanity to the Trade docket given that Kuria has rattled everyone in the country ranging from politicians to common folk.

On Thursday, October 5, Kuria hinted at Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua playing a key role in his kicking out from the Trade Ministry by posting on X an uncaptioned photo of the DP, having collided for weeks.

The post was made a few minutes after Kuria posted a gospel song remarking God will see him through his tribulations, coming moments after he was moved to the Public Service from Trade, something experts could argue was a demotion.

On Friday, September 22, Gachagua dismissed calls for Kuria to be fired from Ruto’s Cabinet, believing that there was no way Kuria could have bitterness towards him as not only is he his worker but also a father figure to him who only corrects him when he has made a mistake.

“I saw reports claiming that the Mt Kenya region has a problem, Deputy President is fighting with CS Kuria…now, is he my CS? I’m the DP, this is our worker. Can you argue with your employer?

“I want to say that Moses Kuria is our son. I heard people calling for him to be sacked, where will he go? For what reason? I’m his father, I told him not to annoy people too much and to go slow, isn’t that my work?” he posed.