Kenyan police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters in the capital Nairobi on Monday as they marked the 35th anniversary of pro-democracy rallies.Activists rally every year on July 7 to mark the date in 1990 when opponents of then-president Daniel Arap Moi launched a bid to transform the country into a multiparty democracy.

Police blocked major roads leading to Nairobi and heavily restricted vehicle traffic on Monday, Reuters witnesses and Kenyan media said, as the country braced for protests to mark the anniversary of pro-democracy rallies.

Police in Kenya have clashed with demonstrators during anti-government protests that saw authorities block major roads leading into the capital, Nairobi, and most businesses closed.