NAIROBI: A Kenyan court has ruled that police acted unlawfully in the 2022 killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, following a complaint filed by his widow who hailed the decision as a long-awaited “justice.”
Arshad Sharif was shot in the head by Kenyan police during an incident in October two years ago.
His widow, Javeria Siddique, alongside two Kenyan journalist groups, lodged a complaint last year accusing senior police and legal officials of the “arbitrary and unlawful killing” of Sharif and the subsequent failure to conduct a thorough investigation.
On Monday, the High Court in Kajiado, south of Nairobi, dismissed police claims that the killing was a case of mistaken identity, asserting that officers had mistaken Sharif’s car for a stolen vehicle involved in an abduction.
Judge Stella Mutuku’s ruling deemed the use of lethal force against Arshad Sharif unconstitutional and in violation of his fundamental right to life.
Following the trial, Siddique expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, stating, “I cannot fully convey my emotions, and I cannot bring Arshad back. However, we have established that those who kill journalists will not escape justice.”
The court also awarded 10 million shillings ($78,000) in compensation, although this decision has been temporarily suspended for 30 days pending a potential appeal by the state.
Siddique’s lawyer, Ochiel Dudley, hailed the ruling as a landmark in police accountability, noting that the judge affirmed Kenya’s breach of Sharif’s rights to life, dignity, and freedom from cruel treatment.
Judge Mutuku directed Kenyan authorities to expedite their investigations into the case and take appropriate action, including prosecuting any police officers found responsible for Sharif’s death.
Kenyan police have faced recurrent criticism from rights groups over allegations of excessive force and unlawful killings, most recently in the aftermath of the deaths of 39 protesters opposing controversial tax increases in Kenya.
