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.

Kenya's security forces have blocked all major roads leading into central Nairobi, ahead of planned nationwide protests. Much of the city centre is deserted, with businesses shut and a heavy security presence on the streets.