NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 24 - Two guards were bludgeoned to death on Monday night when they tried to block gangsters from gaining access to a furniture shop in Nairobi.

The gang of 15 is reported to have scaled a perimeter wall at the furniture bazaar on Mombasa road before they confronted the two guards who were on duty, police and witnesses said.

"It appears there was a violent confrontation because the guards appear to have died while struggling," Embakasi divisional Police chief Mr David Bunei said.

"Witnesses have told us the guards were attacked when they tied to raise an alarm. That is when they were killed," he added.

Mr Bunei said they were later alerted about the incident and arrived only to find the gangsters gone.

They only found the bodies of the two guards which lay in a pool of blood a few meters from the main entrance.

Investigations showed the gangsters had also drilled a concrete wall on the back side of the premises in the 11 pm robbery.

Police said a number of items, including computers and other household goods which were on display were also stolen.

No suspect had been arrested by Tuesday morning, but detectives said they were pursuing two people thought to be masterminds of the raid.

Dozens of officers had been deployed to Mukuru slums in the neighbouring South B estate where witnesses said the gangsters had escaped to.

Mr Bunei said they would also conduct a house to house search to recover the stolen items.

Cases of burglary targeting homesteads and factories have been on the increase, particularly in the Industrial area and neighbouring residential estates.

Police said Monday night's incident was the worst in the recent weeks.

Victims have only suffered injuries in previous similar incidents, the latest having been reported on Friday night when gangsters raided a factory in the Industrial Area.