Protests erupt in western Kenya over senator's arrest

Protests erupted in Kakamega town, in western Kenya, after the area’s senator was arrested by police on Monday.

Demonstrators lit fires in the streets and blocked several roads calling for the release of their leader Cleophas Malala.

Two other senators were also detained and driven to their home counties under police guard.

The arrests forced adjournment of Monday’s Senate session which was supposed to vote on crucial budgetary allocations to regional counties.

Two of the senators, Charles Langat of Bomet County and Steve Lelegwe of Samburu, were however released Monday evening after being questioned by police.

They were both accused of inciting inter-communal violence.

Senator Malala faces allegations of holding a public meeting in contravention of strict measures imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Senators have accused the government of intimidating some of those opposed to a proposed formula on how to share revenue.

The vote on revenue sharing, which was due Monday, has been postponed a record eight times over disagreements on a contentious formula for distributing 316.5bn Kenyan shillings ($2.9bn; £2.2bn) among 47 counties.