Top news items in Kenya's major media outlets

NAIROBI, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The following are the news highlights in Kenyan media outlets on Thursday.

-- Prices of some basic consumer commodities are expected to increase because of new taxation measures that came into force on Jan. 1.

Gamblers who were slapped with higher taxes have protested but consumers too will have to pay more following expiry of a government subsidy that facilitated low cost maize flour. Retailers expect milk and sugar which enjoyed similar subsidies to be adjusted upwards in the coming days. The changes in the tax regimes were announced in budget speech in March last year but came into force this week. (The Standard)

-- The government on Wednesday launched a road map for the rollout of the proposed school curriculum. It begins with a national piloting for pre-school, grades one and two this year that culminates in the actual implementation in January next year. (Daily Nation)

-- Electricity consumers face 79 million U.S. dollars backdated bills as Kenya Power moves to recover costs incurred on diesel generators last year but were not factored in monthly charges as government sought to keep costs on utilities down in election year. (Business Daily)

-- The weatherman has issued first warning of a possible heat wave in Kenya, noting bursts of heat will affect northern counties. (The Star) Enditem