Lawyer Makau Mutua now claims the police report on circumstances under which Pakistani journalist Arshad Shariff met his death doesn’t add up.
Shariff, a renowned investigative journalist, was shot dead by police officers manning a roadblock along Magadi Road in Kajiado on the night of Sunday, October 23, in what authorities described as a case of ‘mistaken identity’.
Mutua, the immediate former Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Chairperson, on Tuesday, questioned the police conduct in the killing of Shariff.
He warned that ‘things’ are likely to get worse if the government doesn’t get to the bottom of such shocking killings.
“The killing — murder, assassination, “mistaken identity,” contract killing, whatever you call it — of Arshad Shariff doesn’t add up.
“Something is eerily, deeply wrong. Why shoot to exterminate? Things are going south very rapidly. Let’s get a grip before matters get out of hand,” Mutua said in a tweet.
Yesterday, the National Police Service (NPS) confirmed that the deceased, aged 50 years, was fatally wounded by a police officer while a passenger in a motor vehicle registration number KDG 200M. At the time of the incident, the deceased was in the company of his brother identified as Khurram Ahmed.
Police Spokesperson Bruno Shioso said the incident followed a circulation from Pangani Police of a stolen motor vehicle.
The officers trailing the motor vehicle towards Magadi alerted the police in Magadi who erected a road barrier.
NPS claimed that the driver of the vehicle ferrying the Pakistani journalist defied orders to stop at the roadblock prompting officers to open fire.
“The deceased’s motor vehicle came upon the police barrier which they drove through. It Is then that they were shot at fatally injuring the late Arshad Mohamed Shariff,” Shioso said in a statement.
The police boss said competent authorities are currently investigating the incident for ‘appropriate action’.
“National Police Service regrets this unfortunate incident… The Ag. Inspector General on behalf of the Service condoles with the family and friends of the deceased,” Shioso added.
Shariff’s shooting in Kenya raised a furore in Pakistan with the country’s entire top leadership including the Prime Minister, the President and even opposition leaders expressing utter shock.
President Arif Alvi termed Shariff’s death 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,” tweeted the president.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sadness over the shocking news of Shariff’s tragic death.
“I am deeply saddened by the shocking news of journalist Arshad Sharif’s tragic death. May Allah SWT grant him a place in Heaven. My deep condolences and prayers for the bereaved family.”
The President, Shehbaz revealed, promised to ensure a speedy probe into the incident as well as the return of the body of the victim to Pakistan.
“Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Shariff in Kenya. I requested him to ensure fair & transparent investigation into shocking incident.
“He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body to Pakistan,” the Prime Minister said.
