Ruto had pledged that no protests would take place, saying he would take opposition leader Raila Odinga “head-on.”
The opposition in a statement condemned the arrests of seven elected leaders and two close associates of Odinga, calling it a “desperate attempt” by the Ruto administration to paralyse the opposition.
Businesses and schools in Nairobi were closed as police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters.
Demonstrations were reported in several other parts of the country including the western counties of Kisumu, Migori and Kisii where the opposition enjoys huge support.