The incident took place while the officers were on patrol on Thursday morning as they intercepted a man who appeared to be carrying a weapon, Kenyan Standard newspaper reported.

According to senior police officers in the region, the plain clad policemen were shot by another man at close range as they attempted to search the suspect. The two suspects then stole pistols from the policemen, and escaped to an unknown location.

Police have reportedly launched a manhunt for the two suspects but no arrests have been made.

The fatal shooting comes days after 42 policemen were killed by cattle rustlers in Suguta Valley, Samburu County.