49 die in militant attack on Kenya town

Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked Shabab rebels have warned tourists and foreigners to stay away from Kenya after claiming an attack that left 49 people dead.

Kenyan residents inspect the scene where vehicles were torched by alleged Islamist militants in the small coastal town of Mpeketoni near Lamu, Kenya (AAP)

About 50 gunmen drove into the coastal town of Mpeketoni on Sunday, attacking a police station then randomly shooting civilians.

The group said the rampage was revenge for the government's oppression of Muslims, and that more attacks will follow.

It said Kenya was now a war zone and warned that any tourist visiting the country did so at their own peril.