Top news items in major Kenyan media outlets

The following are news highlights in Kenyan media outlets on Friday.

-- Government assures that a selection panel to pick new members of the electoral agency is independent and is working without influence to hire officials who will manage next year's polls. (Daily Nation)

-- Class Eight national examination performance drops this year as government for the first time in history of the exams does not cancel results of any pupil following stringent measures put in place to curb rampant cheating. (The Standard)

-- Aspirants seeking to be elected Members of Parliament in next year's polls would be required to have a university degree following the passage of a Bill by legislators. The Bill also outlaws aspirants from attending fundraisings, among other far-reaching proposals. (The Star)

-- Kenya is in talks with its former colonial master Britain to access crucial geological data for use in the mining industry as government races to locate the resources. (Business Daily) Endit