Unknown gunmen shot dead a Swiss national in Kenya's coastal town of Kwale, police said on Saturday.

The police identified the victim as Thomas Edward, 47, who was shot Friday night at a close range at a campsite bar, situated along the beach of the Indian Ocean.

Divisional Police Commander Jack Ekakoro said the assailants stole his mobile phones before escaping. Preliminary investigations have revealed that the gangsters were four and they were using two motorbikes.

"We have launched investigations to establish the cause of his death. We are yet to make any arrest but our officers are hunting down the gangsters. The deceased was in company of other tourists at the bar but he was their only target," Ekakoro told Xinhua by telephone.

The police chief said pathologists will carry out postmortem on the body. A spent bullet cartridge fired from an Ak-47 rifle was found beside his body.

Ekakoro said a combined team of police officers have launched a major operation to crack down on the gang believed to be involved in a series of robbery incidents in the coastal region which threatens the tourism industry.

According to the police, the gang had shot and injured a businessman a few km from where the tourist was killed.

Last week, a mobile money service provider was killed in Ukunda after three men with AK-47 guns arrived at the M-Pesa kiosk on a motorbike.

They walked into the shop which is a few meters from Diani police station, and shot the lady. The gang masqueraded as customers before they confronted the lady.