Top news items in major Kenyan media outlets

NAIROBI, April 5 (Xinhua) -- The following are the news highlights in Kenyan media outlets on Thursday.

-- Fourteen governors serving a second term will from this month, defend their performance in the Senate in the face of county spending queries flagged by the Auditor General. They are among the 33 county heads expected to appear before the Senate Public Accounts and Investment Committee for questioning sessions that have in the past kicked up a storm as governors accuse senators of using the forum to settle political scores. Other 19 first-term governors will shoulder the burden of their predecessors who lost in last year's elections. (The Standard)

-- Deputy President William Ruto's allies have started massive, stealth campaigns for his 2022 presidential bid, taking advantage of the fissures in the opposition and the perceived shifting of the ground following truce between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his rival Raila Odinga during the 2017 polls. (Daily Nation).

-- Opposition leader Raila Odinga has rebuked interior minister for going against the spirit and purpose of his unity agreement with President Uhuru Kenyatta. Odinga faulted Matiang'i for attacking Judiciary. (The Star)

-- Kenya will not raise its value added tax to match the uniform rate for the rest of the other countries in the East Africa Community, the Treasury said, offering relief to businesses and families. (Business Daily) Enditem