The Kenyan military says one of its soldiers has killed six civilians in a village in southern Somalia.

The killings occurred Sunday in Jana Abdalla, located 60 kilometers northwest of Kismayo.

Colonel Cyrus Oguna, spokesman for the Kenyan Defense Forces, tells VOA that the incident happened after al-Shabab militants opened fire on soldiers and civilians at a water distribution point.

“Then the rest of the soldiers withdrew back to defensive positions. Immediately thereafter, another group of civilians approached the defensive positions, and one soldier – that is one KDF soldier – allegedly opened fire and killed six civilians.”

Oguna says the soldier has been disarmed, and that the KDF will conduct an investigation.

Kenyan troops are in Somalia fighting al-Shabab as part of the African Union force supporting Somalia's government.

The Kenyan troops have been moving closer to Kismayo, which is al-Shabab's last major stronghold.