8 unanswered questions on killing of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya

The killing of prominent Pakistani investigative journalist Arshad Sharif by the Kenya police has triggered many questions most of them revolving around the yet to be established motive of the killing.

Was it a case of mistaken identity or was it an assassination of a journalist known as a sharp critique of the Pakistani government?

The late Pakistani journalist was said to frequent Kwenia Farm located 40KM off Magadi Road in Kajiado County.

According to staff who work at the farm, on the fateful day, the evening of 23rd October Sharif left Kwenia Farm while in the company of his brother Khuraam Ahmed.

But their journey back to Nairobi was cut short after a hail of bullets rained on their vehicle killing the renowned Pakistani journalist.

At daybreak, a police statement admitted a police officer shot and killed the renowned Pakistani broadcaster, in what the statement alleged was a case of mistaken identity.

The 50-year-old was aboard motor vehicle registration number KDG 200M at the time of the incident. The vehicle was towed to Kiserian Police Station in Kajiado County.

The killing of the Pakistani national and journalists however, opened up floodgates of questions:

• Did the police attempt to stop the vehicle and did the occupants defy the orders?
• Why did the police open fire and yet the occupants were not shooting at them?
• Why didn’t the police shoot the vehicle’s tyres to immobilize it instead of lethal force?
• Why did the police aim at the passenger and not the driver?
• Why did the police open fire and yet there was a child allegedly on board the vehicle that was reportedly carjacked?
• If the vehicle was common on that road then what caused the mistaken identity?
• How did the police confuse a KDG 200M and a KDJ 700F?
• What was the colour and model of the vehicle that was carjacked?