From correspondents in Nairobi, Kenya, 08:31 PM IST

Two US women and an employee of an international aid organization were shot dead in two separate incidents over the weekend in and around Nairobi, sources said on Monday.

Both shootings occurred on Saturday, with the suspected killers of the US women, who were travelling in a car with diplomatic license plates, allegedly shot dead by police later, the independent Daily Nation newspaper reported on Monday. On Saturday around 20 km west of Nairobi, these two US women were stopped by carjackers bearing rifles.

According to police, at least one woman was shot because she took too long to leave the car. Five people were travelling in the vehicle, which was then towed to the US embassy, the Nation reported.

The US embassy has declined to comment on the incident.

Meanwhile, on Saturday night, Geoffrey Chege, the regional director of aid agency CARE International was shot dead in a carjacking attempt near one of Nairobi's most upscale suburbs. He was returning from a prayer meeting with his wife, who was not hurt.

Nairobi has gained a reputation for theft and carjackings, which often turn violent.

Last year saw a wave of attacks on foreign diplomats. Between July and September, the Russian ambassador, a Danish diplomat and a US military attache were wounded and robbed in three separate incidents.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)