At least eleven people have died and 567 have been arrested in Kenya amidst widespread anti-government protests, according to police reports. The demonstrations, marking the 35th anniversary of the historic Saba Saba protests, have seen violent clashes between protestors and law enforcement, leading to a tense and volatile situation across the nation.

Law enforcement officers reportedly opened fire on demonstrators in the capital. Dr. Aron Sikuku, a medic at Eagle Nursing Home outside of Nairobi, confirmed that two individuals with fatal gunshot wounds were brought to the facility, further inflaming tensions as hundreds of protestors gathered outside the hospital demanding the bodies.

In a statement released Monday evening, the police commended its officers for "exceptional restraint and professionalism despite enduring persistent violence and provocation." The statement also noted that 52 police officers and 11 civilians sustained injuries during the protests.

However, the state-run Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KHRC) paints a different picture, alleging that at least 10 people have been killed and accusing the police of using excessive force – a recurring theme in the recent wave of protests.

The KHRC report claims, "Police operated in plainclothes and unmarked vehicles" on Monday and collaborated with "armed criminal gangs in Nairobi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Kiambu, and Eldoret." The police have previously denied similar accusations. The report further alleges the abduction of at least two individuals, alongside reports of 29 injuries and 37 arrests in various towns throughout the country.

The protests caused significant disruption, with hundreds of commuters and travelers stranded at checkpoints, some located over 10km from the city center. Roads leading to key government buildings, including the State House and Parliament, were heavily barricaded with razor wire. Several schools advised students to remain at home for their safety.

Clashes erupted in various parts of the capital as demonstrators lit fires and attempted to breach police cordons, leading to officers responding with tear gas and water cannons.

According to RNG247, the demonstrations have spread to at least 17 of Kenya's 47 counties.

In Meru county, eastern Kenya, a shopping center in Makutano town was set ablaze, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the sky. In Ol Kalou town, one protester was fatally shot, while another sustained gunshot wounds but survived.

Near the historic Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi, the site of the original Saba Saba protests, police clashed with groups of protesters who set fires in the streets.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's planned appearance at the Kamukunji rally was called off. Odinga cited roadblocks throughout the city, preventing people from reaching the venue, as the reason for his absence.

Despite not attending the rally, Odinga delivered a scathing critique of Kenya's "rogue police force that shoots people with impunity, a force inherited from the colonialists," advocating for a national dialogue on police reform.

The transportation sector was severely impacted by the protests, with long-distance buses stranded as far as 13km from the city center. Many passengers, unable to afford alternative transport, remained stranded with their buses.

Humphrey Gumbishi, a bus driver caught in the gridlock, expressed the frustration of many, stating, "We started travelling at 8:30pm last night... We want the government to engage in a dialogue with Gen-Zs so all this can come to an end."