The Kenyan police has claimed that journalist Arshad Sharif, who was reported dead early morning on Monday, was shot by the police in a case of ‘mistaken identity’.
Reports of the journalist’s death surfaced early morning on Monday, after his wife’s announcement of the same in a tweet.
I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist @arsched today, as per police he was shot in Kenya.
Respect our privacy and in the name of breaking pls don't share our family pics, personal details and his last pictures from hospital.
Remember us in ur prayers. pic.twitter.com/wP1BJxqP5e— Javeria Siddique (@javerias) October 24, 2022
While many on social media are of the opinion that Sharif was ‘murdered’ in a deliberate attack, the Kenyan media has quoted the Kenyan police as saying that the journalist was shot by the police in a case of ‘mistaken identity’.
According to The Star, Sharif was shot in the head by the police after he and his driver allegedly breached a roadblock that had been set up by the police as a checkpoint to check vehicles.
The police claims that there had been orders for them to intercept a car similar to the one Sharif was in as it had been involved in a case of carjacking in which a child had been taken hostage. This is why, the police claims, they tried to stop Sharif’s car.
“We had an incident of shooting which turned out to be a case of mistaken identity involving a journalist. We will release more information later,” the officer said.
The police claim that when Sharif’s car approached the roadblock, they were asked to stop and identify themselves, which they allegedly refused to do. This led to a brief police chase which culminated in shots being fired by the police, resulting in the death of Sharif.
Meanwhile, a Kenyan investigative journalist has claimed that the body of Arshad Sharif was recovered 78 kilometers away from the site the police claim the shooting occurred, adding that Pakistani Embassy Officials are on the site.
Body of slain renowned Investigative journalist #ArshadSharif has been found at Kenya's Chiromo Mortuary, 78 Kilometres from where Police say shooting happened. Body appears to have two gunshot wounds. Pakistan Embassy officials on site. pic.twitter.com/g21NrSwUEK
— Brian Obuya (@ItsBrianObuya) October 24, 2022
He also suggested that there might be some links between his death and the fact that Sharif was working on ‘Behind Closed Doors’, the documentary about corruption in Pakistan.
Popular Investigative journalist #ArshadSharif was shot along the Nairobi-Magadi Road at a roadblock. Police sources call it "Mistaken Identity." But for a man on the run, there are no Coincidences. He was to release #BehindClosedDoors, an exposé on Systemic graft in #Pakistan pic.twitter.com/gvIUDb0L0P
— Brian Obuya (@ItsBrianObuya) October 24, 2022
