Court orders Sh10m compensation for slain Pakistani journalist's widow

Slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif. [Courtesy]

The High Court has ordered the government to compensate Javeria Siddique, widow of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, with Sh10 million for his death.

While delivering her judgement, Justice Stella Mutuku said the use of lethal force against Sharif by shooting him in the head was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Mutuku faulted the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and other investigating agencies for their laxity in concluding the probe and charging police officers behind the journalist’s death.

Sharif was shot by police in Kajiado County on October 23, 2022, allegedly under mistaken circumstances.

 Javeria Siddique filed a lawsuit against Kenyan authorities exactly a year later, naming the Attorney General, the National Police Service, and the DPP as defendants.

She sought acknowledgement of responsibility, transparency, and an apology for her husband's death.

 Arshad Sharif, an anchor for ARY News who moved to Kenya from the UAE in August 2022, did so following legal challenges in Pakistan.

Reports indicate police officers were involved in the killing.

 The Police Oversight Authority (IPOA) made a statement just hours after Pakistan claimed Kenya knows what transpired and that Sharif was murdered.

According to IPOA Chairperson Anne Makori, investigations by a rapid response team sent to the scene of the October 23 incident confirmed police involvement.

"The team established that police were involved in the shooting. The matter falls within the mandate of IPOA," she said.

 Authorities initially attributed Sharif's death to mistaken identity, claiming officers mistook his vehicle for a stolen one linked to an abduction.

However, IPOA's investigations have been delayed, with reports inaccessible for over nine months.

 "I have written to the President and Foreign Minister, but they were not even kind enough to say sorry," Siddique told VOA.