Nairobi: A Kenyan senior police officer said police have rescued a Canadian man kidnapped four days ago, shooting three of his suspected kidnappers.

David Kerina said the man was rescued on Saturday when undercover police tricked his captors into collecting a 10-million shilling ($131,578) ransom they had demanded.

The Canadian was kidnapped Wednesday after dropping his child off at school in Nairobi, Kenya's capital.

Kerina declined to identify the Canadian, but said he was safe and had not been mistreated.

Last year Kenya was hit by a kidnapping epidemic. Most victims were Kenyans, though a few were foreigners.