A court in Kenya has awarded 10m shillings ($78,000; £61,000) in compensation to the widow of a prominent Pakistani journalist, Arshad Sharif, who was shot dead by police at a roadblock nearly two years ago. Sharif, known for criticizing Pakistan’s military leaders and corruption, had received death threats and fled to Kenya for safety. His killing sparked outrage and prompted UN criticism of Kenya and Pakistan. Despite Kenyan police claiming mistaken identity, Sharif’s widow alleged it was a contract killing from Pakistan.
The Kajiado High Court ruled the Kenyan authorities acted unlawfully and violated Sharif’s rights, awarding compensation to his widow. The judge ordered investigation and prosecution of the involved officers. Sharif’s widow expressed gratitude but vowed to continue seeking justice. The ruling is seen as a win for police accountability in Kenya. She plans to involve international organizations in seeking justice for her late husband and protecting journalists.