Two people were killed and at least eight others injured during demonstrations in Kenya on Wednesday, marking one year since widespread anti-government protests rocked the country. The violence occurred in Matuu, a town approximately 100 kilometers (65 miles) northeast of Nairobi, according to hospital officials.

“One had abdominal gunshot wounds and died from excessive bleeding,” said Julius Makau, administrator at the local hospital in Matuu. He added that a second victim, transported from another hospital, had already succumbed by the time they arrived.

Makau confirmed that six people with gunshot wounds and three others with various injuries were admitted to his hospital. One patient remains in critical condition.

While the precise circumstances surrounding the gunfire remain unclear, local media outlet The Nation reported that police opened fire on demonstrators. The march in Matuu was part of nationwide commemorations for the deadly 2023 protests over the rising cost of living, during which at least 60 people were killed by security forces.

Clashes in Nairobi

In the capital Nairobi, protesters engaged in running battles with police. Officers responded with tear gas and rubber bullets in efforts to disperse the crowds. Unlike in Matuu, there were no confirmed fatalities in the capital by late Wednesday.

The renewed protests highlight ongoing tensions in Kenya amid persistent economic frustration. Last year’s demonstrations were some of the most violent in the country’s recent history, prompting calls for accountability over the use of force by police.