On Thursday, April 16, local newspapers covered the results from the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority’s oil price review, which caused public uproar and pushed costs higher in key sectors of the country.
Source: UGC
1. The Standard
According to the newspaper, a court in Nairobi has sentenced Chinese citizen Zhang Kequn to one year in prison and fined him KSh 1 million for trying to smuggle thousands of sisim from Kenya, exposing a growing and profitable illegal trade.
Zhang was arrested on March 10 at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with more than 2,200 parasites hidden in test tubes, including the most sought-after species of cephalotes.
Investigators said the shipments were bound for China, part of a vast network that distributes exotic insects to collectors in Europe and the United States, where a single worm can fetch up to $100.
Originally facing multiple charges, including conspiracy, Zhang pleaded guilty after other charges were dropped.
Delivering the verdict, Senior Chief Magistrate Irene Gichobi described him as unrepentant and dishonest, warning that such crimes have serious ecological consequences.
The case follows a similar incident last year in which two Belgian youths were arrested with nearly 5,000 lice, highlighting the growing trend of insect trafficking across East Africa.
Authorities say the illegal trade threatens biodiversity, as species are removed from their natural habitats for profit.
2. The Star
The publication reports that Kenyans may soon face higher electricity bills after the government has hinted at possible revisions in electricity tariffs amid growing concerns about the rising cost of living.
Energy Secretary Alex Wachira told MPs that although a review is inevitable, the increase will be small.
He linked the expected adjustment to the rise in fuel costs, noting that diesel prices have had a significant impact on electricity generation through the fuel surcharge component.
His remarks came just a few hours after the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority announced a significant increase in fuel prices for the April-May cycle.
In Nairobi, petrol is now sold at KSh 206.97 per litre, diesel at KSh 206.84, while kerosene remains at KSh 152.78. The increase has been linked to rising global oil prices and supply disruptions.
The constant increase has raised fears of a negative impact on the economy, with lawmakers warning that high electricity costs could add to the stress on households already struggling with expensive fuel and food.
However, Wachira said the government is working to reduce the burden on consumers by increasing cheap energy sources such as geothermal electricity and water to reduce dependence on expensive diesel production.
“Regarding the issue of energy costs, yes, in your bill there is a fee for fuel, and I took my time to explain to you what we are doing as a government department and as a ministry to ensure that the increase that you can see is small,” Wachira said.
3. Daily Nation
The newspaper reports that the President’s Democratic Union William Ruto (UDA) is facing growing opposition from its coalition partners as it pushes to expand influence ahead of the 2027 General Election, a move now seen by some allies as a political coup.
The main center of that tension is the strategy of UDA of merging the parties into a main party, a plan that has disturbed important partners.
The Orange Democratic Movement has accused the UDA of trying to undermine it by forcing members to defect, allegations that have fueled mistrust within the wider government.
Ford Kenya has rejected calls for a dissolution, warning that such claims threaten multi-party democracy, with the United African Alliance choosing to maintain its identity despite pressure, and instead opting to support UDA candidates in 2027.
Meanwhile, the original coalition involving the National Peace Congress is still being challenged legally, exposing internal fissures.
The tension has also exposed internal divisions within ODM, with disagreements over zoning and political strategy.
Junet Mohamed has alleged harassment of ODM MPs, while UDA officials insist the recruitment is part of normal political development. “Our members are being told to join the UDA. The plan is to reduce ODM to a Nyanza affair. This is nonsense that you feel ODM has come to remove,” Junet said.
4. Nation Today
According to the newspaper Swahili daily, the quiet life of 37-year-old Peninah Wambui was cut short in a horrific and mysterious murder that has left residents of Mukinduri Market in Kirinyaga County searching for answers.
Wambui had returned home on the evening of March 29, looking forward to a normal night with her eight-year-old daughter.
But when dawn came, she was lying on the floor in her living room and it was her young daughter, a Grade Three student, who made the grim discovery and raised the alarm, drawing neighbors to the scene in fear and disbelief.
“The child raised the alarm after seeing his unresponsive mother. We rushed to the scene immediately,” said a resident.
Police later confirmed that Wambui died of asphyxiation, with parts of his body partially burned in what investigators believe was an attempt to destroy evidence.
There were no signs of forced entry, suggesting the killer had easy access or the victim knew him.
Nothing appeared to be stolen except his phone, as his wallet, which contained money, was left untouched, leading family members to believe that the purpose was not robbery but a deliberate act of suicide.
“The intention was not robbery, but suicide. The attacker was not interested in anything else because there was money in his wallet, but it was left there,” his cousin, Amos Munene, said.
An autopsy confirmed that he died from a lack of oxygen, along with suffocation.
Described as humble, hardworking and devoted to her children, Wambui ran a shop M-Money and he was well known in the community.
His brutal death has shocked residents, with many struggling to understand how such violence could be aimed at such a modest person.
More than two weeks later, no one has been arrested, with Kirinyaga County Police Commander Mohammed Jire assuring the public that investigations are ongoing.
“We are dealing with the issue with due seriousness. Justice will be served,” he said.
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