Cabinet Secretary Rebecca Miano, once celebrated for her leadership in Kenya’s energy sector as the CEO of KenGen, is now facing intense criticism and serious questions about her performance and decisions.
Reports of corruption, financial mismanagement, and ineffective leadership have cast a shadow over her career, both at KenGen and in her current government role.
One of the most significant controversies involves accusations of misusing funds from the Hydro Plaza project.
Reports suggest that during her tenure at KenGen, Miano allegedly diverted project money to purchase an apartment worth Ksh250 million.
This has raised concerns about how financial resources were managed under her leadership.
Many view this as part of a pattern of alleged financial irregularities that defined her time at the energy company.
During her leadership, KenGen faced numerous operational and financial challenges.
One major issue was the alleged overspending on feasibility studies for power plants that were never built.
Critics argue that such missteps contributed to frequent nationwide blackouts and financial losses, leaving taxpayers to bear the burden.
These problems have led many to question Miano’s competence and effectiveness as a leader.
Her tenure at KenGen was further marred by accusations of job discrimination and tribalism, which damaged her reputation.
Rather than addressing these concerns head-on, Miano is accused of focusing heavily on media engagements and public relations efforts to maintain a positive image.
Critics argue that these efforts did little to improve the actual performance of the company or address the underlying issues.
The controversies surrounding Miano have not stopped since her move to a high-ranking cabinet position.
In her role as a Cabinet Secretary, she continues to face scrutiny for her approach to governance, particularly during her previous stint in the Ministry of Trade and her current responsibilities in tourism.
Concerns have been raised about her apparent focus on attending high-profile meetings and media appearances, while critical issues in tourism, such as poaching and declining visitor numbers, remain inadequately addressed.
Questions have also emerged about her qualifications for these high-profile roles, especially given her earlier removal from the position of Attorney General.
Her track record has sparked widespread dissatisfaction among the public, with many calling for greater accountability and transparency in her actions.
As these controversies persist, public demands for Miano to be held accountable for her alleged failures and mismanagement are growing louder.
Both her past leadership at KenGen and her current cabinet role are increasingly being viewed through a critical lens, with questions about her effectiveness and integrity continuing to mount.
