UK army major dies while off-duty in Kenya: govt

A British soldier has died in Kenya while off-duty, the UK's Ministry of Defence announced Saturday, amid reports he was attacked.

Kevin McCool, a 32-year-old who held the rank of major, "tragically died while off-duty" in the east African country on Wednesday, the ministry said.

It provided no details about the circumstances of his death. The BBC said it understood that he was on a motorcycle trip away from a British military base when he was attacked.

 Defence Secretary Grant Shapps called the death a "tragic loss".

"It's clear from the tributes of those who knew him that Major McCool was an exceptional person and an exceptional soldier, loved and respected in equal measure, who served his country with distinction," he said.

The ministry said McCool had a "glittering operational record" and had served in Europe, the Middle East, the Falklands and Africa.

"Wherever he went he left his mark," it added, saying he "thrived in the military environment".

Britain maintains a permanent military training support unit in Kenya, based mainly in Nanyuki -- some 200 kilometres north of Nairobi -- as well as in the capital itself. It consists of around 100 permanent staff and another 280 reinforcing personnel on short tours.