Top news items in Kenyan media outlets

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

-- Ruling party Jubilee and Opposition Cord prepare for a tough political duel from Monday when voter listing kicks off countrywide. The electoral agency is targeting some 9.1 million voters with national identity cards in the registration exercise, the last before the August General Election. Jubilee and Cord are marshalling their troops to push their supporters to register in huge numbers in bid to win the elections. (Daily Nation)

-- India turned down a request by Kenya to recruit doctors from the country to replace its 4,000 who are strike to alleviate patients' suffering. President Uhuru Kenyatta has concluded a visit to the Asian nation and it is observed that he had made the request. The health crisis deepened on Thursday as doctors vowed to ignore a court order requiring them to return to work. (The Standard)

-- Kenya has no plans to shut down the internet before, during or after the general election in August, the Communications Authority said Thursday. The regulator said they are using all possible means not to reach a level where the country can be in tension and force it to take a drastic step. (The Star)

-- A law criminalizing acts of bribery takes effect Friday, exposing business executives to 49,504 U.S. dollars fine and 10-year embargo on their firms for engaging in the vice. (Business Daily)

-- At least two million Kenyans will be in need of food aid by the end of this month to mitigate the effects of drought, the government has said, as it plans to spend 91 million dollars between February and April to assist affected communities. (People Daily) Endit