THOUSANDS of protesters in the Kenyan capital Nairobi were met with a brutal clampdown by police using batons and hurling tear gas today, leaving an unconfirmed number injured.

The protests, which spread across the country, were timed to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-tax demonstrations in which 60 people were killed and 20 others remain missing.

Parliament and President William Ruto’s office in Nairobi were barricaded with razor wire, with all access roads blockaded by police.

The protests, which have now spread to major cities, including Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru and Nyahururu, have morphed into calls for the president to resign.

Local journalists in Nairobi reported a demonstrator being injured in the mouth by a round fired by police towards a crowd. Another protester was attacked by anti riot police and was taken by medics in an ambulance.

Police Inspector General Douglas Kanja said no unauthorised persons would be allowed inside protected zones such as parliament and the statehouse.

Kenyan youth remain unhappy with the current administration due to corruption, rising cost of living, police brutality and the recent death of a blogger in custody. 

Mr Ruto appointed opposition party members to the cabinet last year and in March he signed a political pact with his election rival, opposition leader Raila Odinga.