KILIFI, Kenya, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan authorities are working hard to catch criminals behind the killing of a Swiss national on Sunday in the coastal county of Kilifi, police said on Monday.

Kilifi County divisional police commander Joseph Muriuki said one suspect has been arrested as detectives intensify their hunt for individuals who murdered Schneider Hans Rudolf.

"The victim was killed at his home following a raid by a heavily armed gang," Muriuki said. "The attackers hacked him to death using a machete and escaped with cash and mobile phones."

He said the suspect in police custody, a female, was found in possession of a phone of the murder victim.

Muriuki said the suspect is cooperating with police investigators.

Last year, three Swiss nationals, including an elderly couple who had lived in Kenya for more than 20 years, were killed in Kilifi county, a renowned tourism haven.