Police officers on patrol have engaged suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Garissa County in a shootout, North Eastern Regional Commissioner Nick Ndalana has confirmed.

"We got information that the suspected militants were around and our police officers were on patrol.

After they (militants) noticed the vehicle missed the IED they had planted, they started shooting at the police officers," Mr Ndalana said.

The incident came two days after suspected Al-Shabaab militants destroyed a Safaricom communications mast in Khorof Kharar in Wajir County.

County Police Boss Thomas Ngeywa said an attempt by the militants to attack a police camp failed.