Top news items in major Kenyan media outlets

The following are news in Kenyan media outlets on Thursday.

-- The first batch of the 45,000 kits to be used in the Aug. 8 polls are expected in the country next week even as an audit firm starts a forensic inspection of the voter register.

According to the electoral commission, the supplier of the Kenya Integrated Elections Management System (Kiems) would deliver all the kits in time for testing and certification. The law requires that this happens 60 days before the elections. Once the commission receives the kits, it will hold a public exhibition to showcase how the new system works. (The Standard)

-- President Uhuru Kenyatta has directed governors to pay doctors in public hospitals for the three months they were on strike, but warned that they would be fired should they strike again. The doctors were on strike for 90 days, which ended last month. (Daily Nation)

-- Only 5,692 investors bought the debut phone-based bond worth 1.5 million U.S. dollars whose sale closed yesterday, having met the target ahead of time. National Treasury data showed that 102,632 people registered on the M-Akiba mobile phone bond platform. (Business Daily)

-- The Opposition National Super Alliance technical committee has settled on leader Raila Odinga as the presidential candidate and Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka as his running mate. The final decision will, however, be made by the four leaders of the outfit who have to reach a consensus. (The Star)

-- Shopping malls demand in Nairobi could tip over, raising fears of oversupply of retail space in Kenya's capital. While the city already has more than 15 popular shopping centres, several more malls are planned in close proximity despite waning appetite. (People Daily) Endit