NAIROBI, Kenya — A Kenyan military spokesman says a Kenyan soldier and five militants were killed in firefight in the coastal county of Lamu between Kenyan troops and militants from the Somali extremist group al-Shabab.

Col. David Odongo said Kenyan troops on routine "administrative duties" Wednesday near the Somalia border identified the site where the militants were preparing to stage an ambush and a shootout ensued. Odongo says three soldiers were wounded.

Lamu County has been on a five-month dusk to dawn curfew following al-Shabab attacks in June and July that left 87 people dead. Al-Shabab has vowed retribution for the presence of Kenyan troops supporting Somalia's weak government to fight the militants.

Kenya has suffered a string of attacks blamed on al-Shabab since it sent its troops to Somalia in October 2011.