The death of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif has caused a diplomatic tiff between Kenya and Pakistan. This is after president William Ruto was phoned by a Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif over the murder of the a war winning journalist. Police have started investigations into the matter as well as the independent policing oversight authority[IPOA].
The killing of prominent Pakistani investigative journalist Arshad sharif by the Kenya police has triggered many questions most of them revolving around the yet to be established motive of the killing. Was it a case of mistaken identity or was it an assassination of a journalist known as Arshad Sharrif of the Pakistani government?
Arshad was shot by general service unit police officers manning a road block in Magadi, Kajiado county after they allegedly failed to stop after they were flagged down by the officers who were on the trail of a reported stolen vehicle.
While sticking to the statement released by Magadi police, the national police service in a letter signed by the police spokesperson Bruno Shioso expressed regrets following the incident which has seen the police officers to start investigations as well as the independent policing oversight authority [IPOA]
According to a police report seen and which was recorded around 9pm Sunday night at Magadi police station, the slain journalist was being driven by his brother, Mr Murram ahmed, on their way from Kwenia in Magadi, an area known for the conservation of the endangered Rüppell’s vulture. The surviving Pakistan national said they were developers living in Nairobi.
On the fateful night, the police claim that immediately after they branched into Kiserian-Magadi road from a dusty feeder road, they were flagged down by officers but defied. The police then opened fire. The shooting hit the car from all sides.
The incident left the car with nine bullet holes on the left side of the windscreen, which is 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 on right side of the boot and one front right tyre that had been deflated.
His brother Mr Ahmed reported finding a gunshot wound on Mr Sharif’s head, which was likely the fatal shot. The bullet penetrated the back of his head and exited the front.
However, the killing incident might have just ruined the relationship between kenya and pakistan, as president William Ruto was phoned by the Pakistan prime minister Shebaz Sharrif over the murder of the award-winning journalist. The Pakistan government has given Kenya 12 hours to find out what really caused the murder of this journalist.
The Pakistan embassy has already made plans to repatriate the body of the deceased to Pakistan to facilitate his burial in line with Muslims traditions.
By Marion Wafula
