Probe launched on the Pakistani journalist killing
An independent investigation has been launched to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of a Pakistani investigative journalist Arshad Mohammed Sharif in Magadi, Kajiado county, on Sunday night.
Sharif was shot by General Service Unit (GSU) officers for allegedly failing to stop at a makeshift roadblock at around 10pm.
The deceased, who was heading towards Kiserian-Nairobi direction, was in the company of his brother Khurram Ahmed in a vehicle registration number KDG 200M when their vehicle was sprayed with nine bullets after allegedly, defying to stop at the roadblock.
“Upon scrutiny of the vehicle, it was found it had a bullet hole on the left side of the windscreen on the side the deceased was sitting, two bullet holes on the rear left back screen, one bullet hole on the rear right door, four holes right side of the boot and one front right tyre that had been deflated,” police said.
Police headquarters also said preliminary investigations had established the GSU officers had been alerted of a case from Pangani where a child had been abducted.
Officers from DCI Starehe had reported that a motor vehicle registration number KDJ 700F belonging to Douglas Wainaina had been stolen in Pangani. Kamau had reported he parked the car outside an electronics shop and left his son, Duncan Kamau, inside the car.
Upon return, he found the vehicle missing and reported the matter to the police.
“He reported the said incident at Pangani police station where the officers located the son at Olosuritia ACK Church within Kiserian. He was also located at Kiserian dam estate and later at Olepolos Hills,” a police brief read.
Pangani DCI officers then alerted the incharge of Magadi GSU.
Police officers erected a roadblock on Kuenia-Kamukuru road and as the two foreigners were driving back to Nairobi they found the roadblock of stones before the Kiserian-Magadi road.
The deceased brother said as they passed the roadblock, he heard gunshots but he did not stop and instead continued with the journey.
Khurram then called Naqar Ahmed, also a Pakistan national who reside at Tinga, and informed him about the incident.
He advised them to pass at his place and on arrival at the main gate found his brother had died with a gunshot wound on the head which had penetrated from the back of his head and exited at the front side of his head.
It was later established that the Pakistani nationals were developers and reside in Nairobi.
Respect privacy
Sharif was seated on the passenger’s seat and sustained a bullet that hit the back of his head exiting on the forehead leading him to bleed profusely.
The information first came to the public limelight Monday morning when Javeria Siddique, the deceased wife, posted on her official Twitter handle that her husband had been shot dead in Kenya.
“I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist today, as per police he was shot in Kenya.
Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don’t share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital. Remember us in our prayer,” wrote Siddique.
The National Police Service yesterday regretted what they termed inadvertent shooting of the journalist.
The police spokesman Bruno Shioso in a statement stated investigations are on for necessary actions to be taken.
“The National Police Service regrets the unfortunate shooting of Arshad Mohamed. The competent authorities have already begun investigations into the incident for appropriate actions to be further taken,” Shioso stated.
The Prime Minister of Pakistan Shebhaz Sharif yesterday said he had contacted President William Ruto about the shooting and urged the authorities to expedite the probe.
“I requested him to ensure a fair and transparent investigations into the shocking incident. He promised all-out help including fast-tracking the process of return of the body to Pakistan.”
Pakistani High Commissioner Saqlain Syedah has confirmed that the deceased was in the country on holiday adding that his body will soon be flown back to Pakistan.
The deceased, who is a renowned investigative journalist, fled his country to avoid arrest after he was slapped with several cases, including sedition, following an interview with Shahbaz Gill during which Gill made comments deemed offensive to the military.
Fierce critic
Following the threats, he first moved to Dubai before relocating to Kenya.
He was once considered close to Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, turned into a fierce critic after the removal of former Prime Minister Khan’s government in April.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan demanded an immediate inquiry into Sharif’s death.
“A long, grim record of violent tactics to silence journalists explains why the reported murder of journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya has sent shock waves through the journalist community. The government must pursue an immediate, transparent inquiry into the circumstances of his death,” the organisation said in a statement.
In light of the recent increase in extrajudicial murders, IPOA yesterday announced the sending of a team of detectives to investigate and accelerate the probe into the assassination of a Pakistani journalist.
This comes as the disbanded DCI’s Special Service Unit is under fire for reportedly being behind a string of extrajudicial murders and enforced disappearances.
Speaking during the press conference, John Waiganjo, a member of the IPOA board added: “We are concerned that the IAU is investigating the members of the unit for the alleged atrocities committed by the members. We are the ones who should be dealing with the matter.”
The agency said that it is looking into a number of police misconduct instances, including the dumped bodies in the River Yala and different disappearances countywide.
Pakistan High Commissioner in Kenya said plans are underway to facilitate Sharrif repatriation to his country after being positively identified by friends and family members at the Chiromo mortuary.
IPOA said they will conduct an investigation to establish what transpired and the motive of the deceased killers.
The deceased was on asylum in the country after exposing his government rot and corruption menace amid his continued expose and criticism to government on social media platforms.
He is said to have been pursuing an expose documentary on corruption among government officials before he met his death.
