Top news items in major Kenyan media outlets

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

-- Five National Super Alliance (NASA) leaders were on Tuesday racing against time to conclude talks on their presidential candidate ahead of Thursday's unveiling ceremony in Nairobi.

The talks, according to sources close to the leaders, were slowed down by the ongoing party primaries. A meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning had to be shifted to the afternoon following a request by leader Raila Odinga to handle issues arising from his party's nominations in Nairobi. The leaders, however, have finally agreed on power-sharing. (Daily Nation)

-- Kenya's banking and transport sectors are the least optimistic of the economy's prospects as the country heads to the General Election in August. This is according to the CEO Business Confidence Index released Tuesday that measures the level of confidence that top managers in different sectors have in the economy. (The Standard)

-- Political careers of key allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition chief Raila Odinga have been shattered in the ongoing fiercely contested and sometimes chaotic nominations. (The Star)

-- Kenya has cut work permits issued to foreign nationals by nearly half over the past four years amid stringent rules on job passes for non-citizens. Immigration department issued 5,851 permits last year, down from 7,683 in 2015 and 11,360 in 2012 when the tough regulations were introduced. (Business Daily) Endit