Unknown gunmen shot and killed a Kenyan police officer in Garissa Monday night (February 4th), police officials told Sabahi.

The assailants are suspected al-Shabaab affiliates, and may be part of a gang targeting Kenyan security officers in the area, said Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Maalim.

Maalim identified the officer as Sergeant Mohammed Bolu Wako of the Administration Police's intelligence unit in the Dadaab refugee complex.

"He had just arrived from Nairobi in time to report to his work station on Wednesday," Maalim told Sabahi. "He was finding his bearing outside the hotel that is near the bus booking when he was shot in the head."

Maalim said police have been interviewing witnesses to establish a motive for the killing. He called on residents to assist police in identifying and locating the assailants.

Al-Shabaab has hired local people to target Kenyan soldiers and police, Maalim said, according to Kenya's Daily Nation. "There is no way al-Shabaab can come from Kismayo and start killing people here," he said. "These criminals are being hired by the terror group to cause tension in the town."