Image source, Reuters

We're pausing our live coverage now.

Here is a reminder of what happened:

• At least eight people have been killed and 400 injured, some with gun shots, doctors and rights groups say
• The government has not confirmed any casualties or the use of live bullets by the security forces
• Huge protests were held in the capital, Nairobi, and major cities around the country
• Police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse the mostly young demonstrators
• The government stopped TV stations from broadcasting but the courts later overturned the ban
• Some of the protesters are demanding that President William Ruto resign

For the latest, please read our news story.

Ian Wafula
Reporting from Nairobi

Another of the protesters on the streets of Nairobi was Mohammed.

"We have our rights as civilians and as citizens of Kenya. We want the government to stop extrajudicial killing. And we want the government to actually work together with us.

"These guys have been killing our cousins. If you try to protest, these people just come and try to shoot.

"They shoot us actually with live bullets. Not rubber bullets."

A security guard working for the Kenya Power company was fatally shot during today's protests in Nairobi, the state-run utility firm said.

Fred Wamale Wanyonyi was stationed at Stima Plaza, the company's city-centre headquarters, when he was shot at the office's entrance.

He was rushed to a city hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival, the company said.

“We are working with the relevant investigative organs to unearth the circumstances under which the incident occurred,” Kenya Power said.

It is not clear if the guard is among the eight people who were reportedly killed in today's protests.

More than 400 people were injured, including eight who had gunshot wounds, according to rights groups.

Ian Wafula
Reporting from Nairobi

We came across a group of unidentified armed men with clubs beating up protesters.

One man was lying on the ground while several people attacked him.

Police stood by and watched while others drove away.

Just last week, the Nairobi county government was accused of hiring goons to attack protesters complaining about police brutality. They used similar clubs to the ones we saw people using today.

At the time, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja said the goons had been hired by his opponents to tarnish his name.

At least eight people have been killed and more than 400 others injured in today's anti-government protests, rights groups say.

Among those injured, eight had gunshot wounds with 83 others referred to specialised treatment, said a joint statement by the Kenya Medical Association, Law Society of Kenya and the Police Reforms Working Group.

Three of the injured were police officers, they said.

"We urge those still on streets to exercise care to avoid further loss of life and injury," it added.

The authorities are yet to confirm any casualties.

The High Court in Nairobi has suspended a government directive banning live coverage of protests.

In a case filed by the Kenya Law Society of Kenya (LSK), the court ordered all switched-off signals to be restored immediately.

Major TV stations were taken off air with the government describing the live coverage of the protests illegal.

The LSK says that all the TV signals should be reinstated, condemning the ban as a "punitive, arbitrary and illegal directive".

Police have clashed with demonstrators in Nairobi and other Kenyan cities, as thousands took to the streets to remember those who were killed in the anti-tax protests a year ago today.

Officers used tear gas and water cannon to contain huge crowds but the streets of central Nairobi are now largely quiet. Here are some photos showing how the protests unfolded.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, EPA

Image source, Reuters

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

Another reason why people have been marching today is that Kenya has been gripped by a wave of disappearances, ever since the youth-led protests against a series of planned tax rises on 25 June 2024 - exactly a year ago.

More than 80 people were abducted between last June and January this year, according to a state-funded rights group, external.

A few have been released in recent weeks, and there are growing calls for all who have been abducted to be freed.

The abductions generally target government critics and are widely believed to be the work of security agents, although the authorities have not admitted responsibility.

They began in June last year but increased in December, when AI-generated photos of President William Ruto in a coffin were widely shared.

The situation continues to stoke fear across the country, with parents worried about the safety of their children and activists who are critical of Ruto's government on social media.

Kenya has also been accused of enabling foreign governments to abduct their citizens and carry out forcible extraditions, breaching international law.

In January, prominent Tanzanian activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai was abducted by armed men in Kenya and released after several hours

Last year, Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was kidnapped in Nairobi, allegedly by Ugandan security officials, and taken across the border for trial by a court martial.

Ian Wafula
Reporting from Nairobi

One of the thousands of protesters on the streets of Nairobi was Amina Mude, who told the BBC she wanted "to fight for the future of my kids".

"I feel like as a country we're not going in the right direction, especially in education and everything happening.

"So I'm here to fight for a better Kenya.

"I feel like it's high time that the country and the leadership listens to us. We're here to do it peacefully and to just tell them, you know, listen to us. That's the biggest thing.

"And not killing us.

"I'm actually very scared. I'm waiting to just run away."

Young people have been protesting to mark the first anniversary of a mass protest that culminated in the storming of Kenya's parliament and the killing of protesters by the security forces.

Protests against the government's plan to increase taxes erupted last June, forcing President William Ruto to retract a controversial finance bill.

Since Ruto became president in 2022, taxes on salaries have gone up, the sales tax on fuel has doubled and people are also paying a new housing levy and health insurance tax.

The controversial finance bill was aimed at raising $2.7bn (£2bn) the government said it needed to cut its reliance on external borrowing.

The clampdown by the security forces on a series of protests left at least 65 people dead, the disappearance of 89 others and the arrest of thousands, according to Amnesty International, external. The government put the death toll at 42.

Protests had fizzled out but started again this month following the death in police custody of teacher and blogger Albert Ojwang.

The young Kenyans, labelled Gen Z protesters, are angered by Ruto's government, accusing it of being arrogant and untrustworthy.

They are demanding President Ruto's resignation.

Stewart Maclean
Reporting from Nairobi

The streets of central Nairobi are now largely quiet, with just a few groups of protesters still demonstrating in the centre of the capital.

The BBC observed the debris from earlier demonstrations still littering several of the main roads around Kenya's parliament and State House, President William Ruto's official residence.

At around 17:00 local time (14:00 GMT), officers continued to use tear gas against the small number of demonstrators who remained on the streets, with rows of soldiers continuing to protect key civic buildings.

But the larger number of demonstrators seen earlier in the day have moved away from the city centre, leaving the usually packed rush hour streets largely quiet.

Barbara Plett Usher
Reporting from Nairobi

Image source, Reuters

The wife of a man who died in police custody earlier this month says she feels very connected to today’s protests demanding justice for those killed in anti-government demonstrations last year.

Pathologists who examined the body of Nevnina Onyango’s husband Albert Ojwang said he died from injuries caused by assault, contradicting initial police claims that he had harmed himself.

Ms Onyango told the BBC the demonstrations were important to “communicate in a way that will be heard", and if people "air their voices in the street things might change".

Police have been engaged in running battles with protesters, using tear gas and water cannon.

“They don’t learn,” said Ms Onyango.

“As much as Kenyans are trying to be peaceful, [the police] always find a way of fighting them. I wish they could help people demonstrate peacefully instead of fighting them.”

Three Kenyan policemen have been charged with the murder of Mr Ojwang, a teacher and online blogger.

But Ms Onyango said she wanted to know more about the possible role of deputy police chief Eliud Lagat, who is said to have ordered Mr Ojwang’s arrest because of a social media post criticizing him.

He has stepped aside pending the outcome of investigations.

Read more here

Peter Mwai
BBC Verify, Nairobi

At least three wildlife sculptures - of an elephant, lion and buffalo - have been dragged from the main public park in Nairobi and left on a major road as anti-government protests intensify.

It is not clear who moved the sculptures from Uhuru Park to the nearby Kenyatta Avenue but in a video clip, external posted by the local Citizen TV station, drag marks can be seen on the tarmac.

The sculptures are made of metal sheets so it wouldn’t have required a lot of effort to move them.

We have verified the video footage by matching what we see to another image posted online, external showing another view of the sculptures and police vehicles.

We have also established the location through matching the buildings and trees we see to imagery available on Google Street View.

Image source, Kenyan presidency/X

President William Ruto has appealed to protesters not to threaten peace and stability, as audacious demonstrators push towards his official residence in Nairobi.

“This is our country, and we have to protect its peace. We must operate within the law,” said Ruto, in a firm but conciliatory tone.

The president is attending a burial ceremony in the coastal county of Kilifi.

His absence from the capital during a day of nationwide protests is notable as young protesters threaten to storm his official residence, demanding his resignation.

“Protests should not be to destroy peace in Kenya. We do not have another country to go to when things go wrong. It is our responsibility to keep our country safe,” he added.

At least two people have been shot dead during protests in the Kenyan town of Matuu, about 100km (65 miles) from Nairobi, a hospital official has told AFP news agency.

"One had abdominal gunshot wounds and died from excessive bleeding. We got an alert of another gunshot victim at another hospital but on arrival we found that the patient had already succumbed," said hospital administrator Julius Makau.

The BBC has not been able to confirm any deaths from the nationwide protests that have hit Kenya.

AFP is also reporting that at least one police officer and several demonstrators have been injured in Nairobi, while a man suspected of being a plain-clothed officer was manhandled by the crowd.

We'll bring you more details as soon as we get them.

Akisa Wandera
Reporting from Nairobi

Image source, Getty Images

At least 50 people have been injured in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, the BBC understands, as thousands join nationwide protests marking the first anniversary of deadly anti-tax demonstrations.

The Kenyatta National Hospital has received patients with various injuries, but it is unclear whether this includes gunshot wounds.

Police have been engaged in running battles with protesters, using tear gas and water cannon to disperse growing crowds in Nairobi.

In the central business district, demonstrators continue pushing towards parliament, despite roadblocks and a heavy police presence.

In some instances, overwhelmed officers have been forced to retreat, with protesters in pursuit.

The atmosphere remains tense, and there are growing concerns of possible fatalities and more injuries.

Major TV stations have been pulled off air as the government moves to enforce a ban on live coverage of the protests.

The privately owned NTV and KTN stations say police and communication officials raided their transmission centres and switched off their signals.

"The shutdown of NTV is a direct interference of our editorial operations," NTV's parent company Nation Media Group said in a statement, external.

Another private station, Citizen TV, says the same officials have arrived at their transmission station presumably to pull it off air.

But the stations' coverage is continuing on YouTube and social media platforms.

Protests have spread across the country as more police are deployed to contain them.

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

The state body that employs Kenyan police officers has appealed to the police to uphold the rule of law “even in the face of provocation”.

Police have fired tear gas and water canon to disperse protesters and there are unconfirmed reports of casualties.

The National Police Service Commission (NPSC) said it expected police officers to uphold the “highest standards of professionalism and restraint”.

It added that it had observed “with concern and keen attention the unfolding situation” and called for “empathy and cooperation” between citizens and the police.

[The police] are not just law enforcers, they are our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters serving our nation with dedication under often difficult and emotionally charged circumstances”, it added in a statement, external.

Akisa Wandera
Reporting from Nairobi

Image source, Getty Images

Chanting “Ruto must go,” thousands of protesters have flooded Nairobi’s streets to demand the resignation of the president.

They waved Kenyan flags and carried branches as a symbol of peaceful opposition.

Police had deployed barricades and razor wire to seal off major roads - especially those leading to State House, President Ruto's official residence, and parliament.

Crowds are moving in groups through Nairobi’s central business district. In some unexpected moments amid the charged atmosphere, protesters paused to play football on a closed-off street.

However, in several other places, the mood quickly turned confrontational.

Police resorted to water cannons and tear gas to disperse the swelling crowds.

Video footage from independent journalists showed plumes of white tear gas drifting between tall buildings, sending protesters scrambling for cover, coughing, and shielding their eyes. But they returned, chanting defiantly.

In the heart of Nairobi, protesters marched pass shuttered shops and empty streets. The razor wire fencing around parliament stood as a stark reminder of last year’s violent unrest, when protesters breached security and stormed the building, setting part of it alight.

Today, the fence around parliament was lined with wreaths and handwritten notes from grieving families and defiant youths.

A young woman draped in a Kenyan flag clutched a poster bearing the names of those killed a year ago by the security forces as they tried to end the protests.

Kenya's association of editors has condemned the government's directive to ban live TV and radio coverage of the protests.

It says live coverage is not a threat but a "civil duty to ensure accountability and transparency".

"We urge all media to stand firm and respect the 2023 High Court ruling that barred such censorship," the Kenya Editors’ Guild said in a statement, external.