Kenyan newspapers review: Government signals possible increase in power bills amid fuel surge, UDA faces coalition resistance, and ant smuggler jailed

Kenyan newspapers on Thursday, April 16, focused on several key issues, including the fallout from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority's fuel price review and its potential impact on electricity costs. Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira indicated that while a review of power tariffs is inevitable, any increase would be marginal, attributing the adjustment to rising fuel costs, particularly diesel. This comes after sharp fuel price hikes for April–May, with petrol now at KSh 206.97 per litre in Nairobi. Meanwhile, President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance UDA is facing resistance from coalition partners as it seeks to expand its influence ahead of the 2027 General Election. Parties like Ford Kenya and Pamoja African Alliance have rejected calls to dissolve, while the Orange Democratic Movement accuses UDA of attempting to weaken it. In other news, a Nairobi court sentenced Chinese national Zhang Kequn to one year in prison and fined him KSh 1 million for attempting to smuggle over 2,200 ants, including the messor cephalotes species, out of Kenya. Investigators believe the shipment was destined for China as part of a wider illegal trade in exotic insects. Additionally, the mysterious killing of 37-year-old Peninah Wambui in Kirinyaga County has left residents searching for answers. Wambui was found dead in her home, with police confirming she died from choking and parts of her body partially burnt. No arrests have been made, and investigations are ongoi