Two non-Muslim high school teachers were killed on Tuesday night when an explosive device was thrown at their house, setting it on fire, in the Kenyan town of Lafey in north-eastern Mandera County, police say.

Police reservists engaged the attackers - believed to be from militant Islamist group al-Shabab - who then fled.

Police are now hunting for the attackers.

Situated on the Kenyan-Somalia border, Mandera county has experienced regular attacks targeting non-locals, many of whom are non-Muslims, working in the area.

Earlier this year, four quarry workers were killed by suspected al-Shabab militants in Mandera county.

The attack comes amid protests by the teachers’ union against the hiring of non-local teachers in the region.