Police kills Three over coronavirus restrictions in Kenya

Kenyan police have killed three people when a crowd of motorcycle taxi drivers protested against the arrest of a colleague for ignoring coronavirus restrictions.

Police shot at the crowd in the western city of Lessos after clashes, a police statement said.

The police have ordered the arrest of the officers involved.

Kenyan police face increasing scrutiny over accusations they are excessively enforcing the coronavirus restrictions.

cobbler reportedly tried to intervene when police were harassing a motorbike taxi driver for not wearing a mask, reports the Standard newspaper.

The Daily Nation newspaper adds that the police were arguing over a bribe of 50 Kenyan shillings ($0.50; £0.40).

The police then shot dead the cobbler, named as 40-year-old Lazarus Kirop.

The crowd started protesting against Mr Kirop's death.

Hundreds of villagers followed the police back to their police station and set alight a police officer's house, reports the Daily Nation.

The police statement says two more people were then shot dead.