A Kenyan court has awarded 10 million shillings ($78,000; £61,000) in compensation to the widow of Arshad Sharif, a prominent Pakistani journalist killed by police nearly two years ago.
Arshad Sharif, known for his critical stance against Pakistan’s military and political corruption, fled Pakistan after receiving death threats. He was shot dead by police in Kajiado, Kenya, a killing that sparked international outrage and criticism from UN experts directed at both Kenya and Pakistan.
Kenyan police initially claimed Sharif’s death was a case of mistaken identity, but his widow, Javeria Siddique, asserted it was a targeted killing orchestrated by an unnamed individual in Pakistan.
The Kajiado High Court ruled that Kenyan authorities acted unlawfully, violating Sharif’s right to life. Justice Stella Mutuku stated that while monetary compensation could not equate to the loss of life, it served as appropriate redress for the violation of fundamental rights. The court also ordered Kenyan authorities to complete investigations and prosecute the officers involved.
Reacting to the ruling, Siddique expressed her relief but vowed to continue seeking full justice for her husband. Siddique, a journalist herself, along with the Kenya Union of Journalists and the Kenya Correspondents Association, had filed the lawsuit seeking transparency and accountability from the Kenyan authorities.
The police had provided conflicting accounts of the incident, with one version suggesting officers mistook Sharif’s vehicle for a stolen one and another claiming a passenger in the car opened fire first.
Siddique remains committed to campaigning for the protection of journalists and plans to seek further support from the UN and the Committee to Protect Journalists. The BBC has requested a response from Kenyan authorities regarding the ruling.