Top news items in Kenya's major media outlets

NAIROBI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- The following are the news highlights in Kenya's major media outlets on Wednesday.

-- Kenya's opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) principals on Tuesday met yet again as date for the promised swearing-in of leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka neared.

With less than two weeks to the planned date of the event, the four principals are working round the clock preparing for something that may be the most open act of defiance against a state or cancel it in favor of talks.

The NASA leaders are expected to give their supporters direction on what they would do, even as President Uhuru Kenyatta ruled out dialogue with them. (Daily Nation)

-- Taxpayers have paid dearly for a syndicated loan the National Treasury took in October 2015 at the height of a cash crunch in government. The country is estimated to have paid 750 million dollars in interest and fees. (The Standard)

-- A new report has forecasted that the Kenyan shilling would depreciate from the current 103.05 to 106.00 at the end of the year due to both global and internal risks. (The Star)

-- The Kenyan government has begun the process of consolidating functions of six financial organizations into one mega bank that would enable women and youth to access funds. (Business Daily) Enditem