Kenyan govt ordered to pay Rs21.7 million compensation to Arshad Sharif's family

The High Court in Kajiado County on Monday ordered its government to pay 10 million Kenyan Shilling (Rs 21.7 million) to the family of slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif.

Sharif was killed in Nairobi on October 23, 2022, by local police in a case of “mistaken identity”.

However, later reports from the Kenyan media reconstructed the events surrounding the killing, saying that an occupant in Sharif’s car at the time of his killing opened fire at paramilitary General Service Unit officers first.

Justice Stella Mutuku, in her verdict, said that the killing of the Pakistani anchorperson was "arbitrary and unconstitutional".

"The shooting violated the journalist's right to life, right to equal benefit and protection of the law and right dignity, among others," NTV Kenya reported citing the Judge.

In the verdict, the judge also directed the government to pay the bereaved family Sh10 million as compensation.

However, the request for compensation was not filed by Sharif's widow, Javeria Siddique, who lodged a case against the Kenyan officials for "delaying investigations".

Siddique filed a case against Attorney General Justin Muturi, Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and others.

“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.

She further said that appropriate action should be taken against the police officers who were found guilty of the killing.