The Independent Policing Oversight Authority(IPOA) has taken over the case in which a Pakistani journalist was shot dead along the Nairobi-Magadi highway after the police revealed that it was a case of mistaken identity.

The senior journalist identified as Arshad Sharif was killed with a single shot to the head after an alleged roadblock breach by his driver , which the police set it up to check on vehicles using the route.

The police have since confirmed that matter, revealing that Sharif was a victim of mistaken identity , after they were asked to be on the lookout for a vehicle ferrying suspected carjackers from Nairobi.

“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,” a senior police officer confirmed.

It was alleged that the suspected carjackers were using a similar vehicle as Sharif and his driver, and when Sharif’s car emerged at the roadblock they were stopped and asked to identify themselves, to which they declined and drove past, prompting a brief chase.

The chase resulted in the shooting which left the journalist dead, and his driver injured.

The news of his death sent shock waves worldwide especially after his wife Javeria Siddiqui shared that he met his death in Kenya, asking for privacy during the difficult time.

“I lost friend, husband and my favourite journalist [Arshad Sharif] today, as per police he was shot in Kenya,” she stated on her Twitter account.

This comes after IPOA stated that investigations into recently disbanded Special Services Unit among other cases of extra judicial killings are ongoing to find officers responsible  for the deaths of innocent civilians culpable, in line with President William Ruto's call to end senseless killings.