Top news items in major Kenyan media outlets

The following are news highlights in major Kenyan media outlets on Thursday.

-- Thousands of public and private sector employees to start enjoying lower taxes from January next year as the government effects changes to the income tax law. Treasury this week notified human resource departments across the country to effect the changes. (Daily Nation)

-- Kenya's economy is likely to expand by just over 6 percent next year, down from an initial forecast of 6.5 percent, mainly because of slowing private sector credit growth, a senior Treasury official said on Wednesday. (The Standard)

-- Ruling coalition Jubilee asks national administration officers to collect views on its three years in office as it seeks to plan its re-election strategy in 2017. The use of the officials in political activities, however, is against the law and the move is expected to open a new war with Opposition. (The Star)

-- Development spending in the current financial year has been cut by more than 2 billion U.S. dollars in what could slow economic growth and dim job creation, the Budget Policy Statement shows. (Business Daily)

-- Electoral commission boss on Wednesday raised fears that the tight timelines it is working under are bound to severely hamper preparedness and delivery of the General Election slated for August next year. The tight timelines were set by a new law that also recommended the re-constitution of the commission with less than a year to the polls. (People Daily) Endit