In a joint statement, the Kenya Tourism Board and Kenya Tourism Federation offered their "condolences and sympathy” to the family of Tristan Voorspuy, who was killed in the country on March 5.
Voorspuy was killed after an altercation with pastoral herders on the Sosian Ranch, which he co-owned, in Laikipia County, while inspecting some of his lodges, a local police official told the Associated Press.
He was a former British army officer and owner of Offbeat Safaris.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) confirmed the incident in an update on the Kenya travel advice page of its website.
“A British national was murdered on his Laikipia ranch as he went to investigate damage caused by invaders,” it said.
The Kenyan tourism bodies said that following the incident they “would like to clarify” that no tourists were involved or staying on the ranch at the time of the shooting.
The authorities added that “present unrest”, which it explained included the invasion of seven ranches by herders, was restricted to a small number of incidents and “well-known wildlife conservancies and tourism facilities in the rest of Laikipia are not affected and remain calm and peaceful.”
“Tourism activity continues as normal in most of Laikipia and throughout the rest of the country with holiday-makers currently on safari in the country’s national parks and visiting its popular coastal resorts.
“The tourism industry continues to maintain very close contact with the stakeholders in Laikipia and a fact finding trip to Laikipia was earlier carried out by the Kenya Tourism Board and Kenya Tourism Federation industry executives to assess the situation on the ground.
“We fully support the investigations being carried out by the police and other relevant authorities to bring the perpetrators of these lawless acts to justice.
“We believe that the government of Kenya will be giving the highest priority to restoring law and order for all the people in the affected area so that they can enjoy the normal peace and security found throughout the rest of Laikipia County,” the tourism organisations added.
