NAIROBI – A British man was shot dead in northern Kenya on Sunday at a private ranch in the Laikipia area, two of the man’s neighbours told Reuters.

There have been numerous violent attacks in the drought-stricken area in recent months as armed cattle herders searching for scarce grazing have driven tens of thousands of cattle onto private farms and ranches. At least a dozen people have been killed.

Kenyan authorities and the British High Commission did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Tristan Voorspuy, a father of two and a British cavalry veteran who ran a company called Offbeat Safaris, was shot dead after he went to inspect the remains of a friend’s home that had been burnt down a few days earlier, one of the neighbours said.

“He rode out to look at what was left of Richard’s house. He never came back. We flew over the area to look for him … the horse had been shot in the leg and he (Voorspuy) was dead in front of the house,” the neighbour said, adding that workers have been at the scene and confirmed that Voorspuy was dead.

Both neighbours asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation.