A Chinese tour guide has stabbed and killed a tourist who was visiting Kenya's famed Maasai Mara Game Reserve after an argument over the seating arrangement for dinner.

John Kiruti, manager of Keekorok Lodge which is within the park, said the woman, also a Chinese citizen, sustained serious chest injuries in the incident late on Monday and died as she was being transferred to another tourist camp for treatment.

Her husband sustained serious stomach injuries.

"The tour guide who had brought three clients from his country for two nights differed with the couple ... over the seating arrangement at dinner time," Kiruti said on Tuesday.

"After a brief exchange of words, he drew a knife and stabbed the two, fatally injuring the woman and injuring her husband."

Kiruti said the couple's two children, aged nine and 12 years old, watched as the incident took place.

"The hotel staff rushed to restrain the guide. The kids are still in shock. We making plans to take them to Nairobi," he said.

Police later arrested the guide.