KEY POINTS:
NAIROBI - Carjackers shot dead two women in a United States Embassy vehicle in Nairobi's western outskirts, and police killed two of the fleeing gunmen during a shootout in the bush.
Police spokesman Gideon Kibunjah said two policemen were also shot and wounded as they chased the gunmen armed with AK-47s during the daylight carjacking on the main highway in the capital, nicknamed "Nairobbery" by its residents.
Gangsters driving another vehicle had stopped in front of a black 4WD bearing diplomatic plates issued to the US and ordered the five occupants out, he said.
"There was a person who was driving and an elderly lady who took too long to get out of the vehicle and the gangsters shot them and threw them out," Kibunjah said.
Soon after the shooting the gunmen dumped the vehicle and its easily identifiable red diplomatic plates.
Carjackings are common in Nairobi but are more likely to happen at night, when attackers set obstructions on the road and hold people up for their wallets, mobile phones and cars.
Kenya's police, who patrol with assault rifles, generally give no quarter to armed criminals, and shoot-outs are common. Internal Security Minister John Michuki last year issued a controversial "shoot-to-kill" order against armed criminals.
- REUTERS
