Phyllis Wakiaga, M.B.S.

Phyllis Wakiaga is the CEO and Managing Partner of Wakiaga & Company Advocates, where she leads a senior legal and strategic advisory practice operating at the intersection of law, governance, policy, and economic transformation. She is widely recognised as a leading voice in industrial policy, private sector development, and institutional reform in Africa.

An Advocate of the High Court of Kenya, Phyllis holds an MBA, a Master’s degree in International Trade and Investment Law, and is currently a PhD candidate in Leadership and Governance. Her academic grounding complements more than two decades of experience advising governments, boards, and institutions on complex regulatory, economic, and governance matters.

Before returning to lead and reimagine Wakiaga & Company Advocates, Phyllis held senior leadership and advisory roles across the private sector and international policy institutions. She previously served as Senior Advisor and Global Lead for Industry & Commerce at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, supporting governments across Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East on industrial strategy, business-enabling reforms, and sector development in areas such as tourism, life sciences, textiles and apparel, digital economy and critical raw materials.

Earlier, she served as Chief Executive Officer and Secretary to the Board of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), where she led national and regional policy advocacy, manufacturing sector expansion, and structured public–private engagement. She also previously worked as Manager for Government and Industry Affairs at Kenya Airways, leading aviation policy and regulatory coordination across the airline’s global network.

In addition to her legal and advisory work, Phyllis is the Founder of CareerSight, a leadership and mentorship platform dedicated to nurturing ethical, purpose-driven leadership across Africa. Through CareerSight, she supports professionals and young leaders to navigate career transitions, leadership responsibility, and institutional service reflecting her commitment to building human capital alongside strong institutions.

Phyllis is a highly respected board member and governance expert, with extensive experience across regulated and strategic sectors. Her past board roles include Chair of the UN Global Compact Network Kenya, Chair of the Kenya Roads Board, and Board Member of the Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen). She currently serves on several boards, including the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), the International Centre for Research on Women (Africa Board), and I&M Bank, among others.

Phyllis is also a thought leader and regular columnist, writing on industrial policy, economic transformation, governance, and private sector growth. Her commentary has been published in leading regional outlets including Business Daily and The East African, and she is frequently featured on media platforms providing expert insight on Africa’s economic trajectory.

Her contributions to leadership, policy, and economic development have been recognised globally. She has been named among the Choiseul 200 Africa Economic Leaders for Tomorrow (2018 & 2020), Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD), Kenya’s Top 40 Under 40, Top 10 Communicators in Kenya, and BBC Africa Power Women. She is also a recipient of the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear (M.B.S.) for her contribution to national development.