Arshad Sharif murder: Kenyan court orders govt to pay compensation to journalist’s family

The judge penalized the Kenyan government with Rs21.7 million as compensation for the loss of life, although she suspended the monetary compensation for 30 days to allow the government to appeal against the decision.

Justice Mutuku determined that the state agencies cannot escape responsibility for Sharif’s death, as each of them has a role to play based on the relief sought by Sharif’s family in their petition.

“In view of the analysis above. I find that the respondents, jointly and severally through their actions violated the rights of the petitioners,” the judge said adding that the family should be updated on the status of the investigations and appropriate action to be taken against the police officers found culpable.

The remarks came after Arshad Sahrif’s widow, Javeria Sidique sued Attorney General Justin Muturi, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga, and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), among others, accusing them of delaying investigations into the shooting and keeping the family in the dark concerning the probe.

Arshad Sharif allegedly fled Pakistan in July 2022 to avoid arrest for criticizing the country’s military establishment. While he was traveling in Kajiado, Kenya, he was shot dead by a cop in what the police later described as a case of mistaken identity.

Sharif was a passenger in a Toyota Land cruiser KDG 200M and the police claimed to have been trailing a different vehicle, a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van KDJ 700F, allegedly stolen from Pangani.