Tear gas fired in Kenya as police battle young protesters

BBC News

4 hours ago

Update:
Date: 10:35 BST
Title: Stop use of state violence - former chief justice
Content: David Maraga is among demonstrators in Nairobi
Kenya's former Chief Justice David Maraga is taking part in the protests against police brutality in Nairobi.
He condemned the "use of state violence" against grieving families and peaceful protesters.
"The flagrant violation of the constitution and human rights must stop," he said.
The former chief justice's participation in the demonstration is not surprising. He is a vocal critic of police brutality, and has ambitions to run for the presidency in the next election.
Update:
Date: 10:19 BST
Title: Opposition leaders lay wreaths outside parliament
Content: Opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka and Eugene Wamalwa have joined protesters in Nairobi and have called on police exercise restraint
The two laid wreaths outside parliament in honour of the people killed in anti-tax demonstrations a year ago.
"They were mowed down. Shot and killed, and a year later, nothing has happened," Musyoka said.
A heavy contingent of anti-riot police has been deployed in major cities amid fears of a confrontation with protesters.
Update:
Date: 10:16 BST
Title: Government urges protesters not to 'provoke police'
Content: Kenya's interior ministry has urged demonstrators not to "provoke the police" as they protest against police brutality.
"Respect the law, be responsible," it says in a post on X.
Update:
Date: 10:00 BST
Title: Fears that club-wielding 'goons' could unleash violence
Content: The involvement of young men carrying clubs and sticks to disrupt a protest last week has heightened fears that violence could mar today's demonstrations as well.
Last week, groups of young men riding motorbikes, and armed with whips and clubs, attacked protesters in the capital Nairobi's central business district.
Videos show the men - described locally as "goons" - seemingly working side-by-side with police, who fired teargas to try and disrupt the demonstrations.
The police have denied any link, saying it did not condone such "unlawful groupings."
A vendor was shot during the demonstration, sparking renewed outrage among Kenyans who accuse police of using excessive force against protesters. Police deny the allegation.
Update:
Date: 09:39 BST
Title: Key roads to the city blocked
Content: Razor wire was erected to block protesters from getting to parliament
Key roads in the city have been barricaded as Kenyans return
to the streets in the capital, Nairobi and elsewhere around the country to mark the first anniversary of the deadly anti-government
protests that peaked with the storming of parliament, leaving at least 60
people dead.
In Nairobi, motorists were being turned away at checkpoints some distance
from the city centre, with people only allowed to proceed on foot.
Many businesses in the city centre remain shut for fear of
being targeted for looting or getting damaged in the demonstrations.
There is a heavy deployment of security officers all around the city and in key state installations, including parliament and around State House, the president's official residence.
Ahead of the protests, parliament had been barricaded with razor wire to prevent protesters from getting in.
Update:
Date: 09:38 BST
Title: Police fire tear gas as protesters storm Kenyan streets
Content: Police in Kenya have fired tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators who have taken to the streets in the country's major cities to mark the first anniversary of anti-government protests that culminated in the storming of parliament.
Businesses and schools in the capital, Nairobi, have been closed due to fears of violence and looting.
The protests come a year after the unprecedented demonstrations that saw parliament breached and over 60 people killed, with no convictions made so far sparking calls for justice and accountability.