Pressure continues to mount on Kenya to conduct and conclude thorough investigations into the fatal shooting of Pakistani investigative journalist Arshad Sharif in Magadi, Kajiado County on Sunday, October 23.
The Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif, through Twitter, has disclosed that he had a telephone conversation with President William Ruto about the incident.
"Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Sharif 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," Shehbaz tweeted.
Just had a telephonic call with Kenyan President William Ruto about the tragic death of Arshad Sharif in ??. 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 ?? - Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) October 24, 2022
Earlier on, the Kenya Editors' Guild also called on the police to conclusively investigate the matter and take action against those responsible.
"While we wait for all details on the killing, the Kenya Editors' Guild calls upon the Government to quickly and thoroughly investigate the case to determine the cause and reason of the killing and bring those responsible to book," Churchill Otieno, The Editor's Guild President said in a statement.
At the same time, acting Inspector General of Police Noor Gabow has termed as regrettable, the fatal shooting of the 50-year-old Pakistani journalist.
In a press statement, Gabow confirmed that Sharif was shot dead by a Kenyan police officer while on board a private vehicle KDG 200M in the company of his brother namely Khurram Ahmed.
"National Police Service regrets to announce an incident that occurred last night along Kwenia farm/Kamukuru marram road within Magadi, Kajiado where a foreigner national namely Arshad Mohammed Shariff, a Pakistan National aged 50 was fatally wounded by a police officer," Gabow said.
The police boss has explained that the incident followed a circulation from Pangani Police Station of a stolen motor vehicle and that the officers were trailing the said car towards Magadi before they erected a road barrier.
"The deceased motor vehicle came upon the police barrier which they drove through. It is then that they were shot at, fatally injuring the late Arshad Shariff," the acting IG stated.
The National Police Service has since commenced investigations into the incident by involving competent authorities for appropriate action.
Earlier on, the Independent Policing Oversight Authority, (IPOA) Chairperson Anne Makori 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 and we are looking forward to their report,' Makori told journalists at a press briefing on Monday, October 24.
