A police officer based in Nakuru on Tuesday morning shot dead his boss in a shocking incident that has left colleagues in a sombre mood.

Nakuru Police Commander Samwel Ndanyi has confirmed the incident.

He said a police constable identified as Jackson Konga shot his boss, a police sergeant, known as Christopher Kimeli around 5 am.

"This morning around 5am it was reported by one of our officers who heard gunshots. He reported that one sergeant by the name Kimeli had been shot by one of his colleagues; a police constable by the name Konga," he said.

"The cause of the shooting is not yet known. We are yet to know what transpired that led to constable Konga shooting his supervisor."

According to Ndanyi, Konga was on duty at the time he committed the offence.

Kimeli on the other hand had just signed off from work and was planning to pick up his child from school when he was shot dead.

Ndanyi said the suspected officer has been arrested and a probe is ongoing to establish the motive of the murder.

The suspect's weapon has been confiscated.