A senior Pakistani journalist was shot dead Sunday night along the Nairobi-Magadi highway in what police termed as a mistaken identity.
Arshad Sharif, was shot in the head and killed by police. This was after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up to check on motor vehicles using the route.
The two were driving from Magadi town to Nairobi.
“I am yet to establish where the said car is. However, I can confirm that the body of the male victim, identified as that of Arshad Sharif, is at the Chiromo Mortuary,” a source said.
Condolences
Many pakistanis have expressed their shock and condolences after the news broke.
His wife Javeria Siddique confirmed the death of her husband via her Twitter account.
“I lost my friend, husband and my favourite journalist Arshad Sharif today. As per police, he was shot in Kenya. Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking please don’t share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from the hospital. Remember us in your prayers,” she tweeted.
“Arshad Sharif’s death Is a great loss to journalism and Pakistan. May his soul rest in peace and may his family, which includes his followers, have the strength to bear this loss,” President Arif Alvi tweeted.
Arshad Sharif was working on an investigative documentary on corruption, titled as “Behind Closed Doors”.
The documentary also featured Investigative and award-winning Kenyan journalist John Allan Namu.
“I am sorry to hear about Arshad’s death. I was interviewed for the documentary. But he and I never met or worked together,” Namu confirmed on Twitter.
IPOA reacts
Independent Policing Oversight Authority, (IPOA) Chairperson Anne Makori has also promised a thorough investigation into the brutal killing of Sharif.
“We will conduct independent investigations into the incident. We have already dispatched our team of investigators to the scene adn we are looking forward to their report,’ Makori told journalists at a press briefing on Monday, October 24.
The International Huma Rights Foundation also took to Twitter demanding for thoroough investigations into the incident.
“Claims of “mistaken identity” are not credible. The procedure is to immobilise the vehicle or intercept it at a later stage & repel hostilities (if any) by firing on hostiles. Non-violent passengers should never be shot at. Demand investigation. #ArshadSharif,” the rights body said in a tweet.
Both countries’ governments are yet to confirm the journalist’s death and the conditions surrounding it. Asim Iftikhar, Foreign Office Spokesperson, said Pakistan’s High Commission in Kenya was gathering information from the authorities.
By Wanjiru Mbaru