A Nairobi lawyer remains missing after armed men were captured on CCTV pursuing and forcibly taking him along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road. His family has turned to the High Court, seeking urgent answers from security agencies.
Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi, who practises at Abshir & Njagi Advocates, was reportedly seized in the early hours of November 1. His white Toyota Premio was later found abandoned along the same road.
The disappearance has raised concerns within the legal profession. Colleagues have suggested that it could be connected to a criminal case before the Makadara Law Courts. However, that possible link has not been independently established.
CCTV Shows a Violent Encounter
Footage from the morning of November 1 captures a white saloon car being pursued by a black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado at about 4.41am.
At a junction, another vehicle appears to block its path. The white car reverses before veering off the road and landing in a drainage channel. Its occupants then emerge and run in different directions.
Two minutes later, Abdi is seen attempting to escape. He runs towards a nearby gate and tries to climb over it as armed men approach.
One man catches up with him and strikes him. More men then arrive, restrain and blindfold the advocate before forcing him into a black Prado.
The footage appears to show several men at the scene. Reports indicate that at least eight were involved, with some carrying firearms. The group is seen leaving in the Prado and a double-cabin pickup.
His vehicle was subsequently recovered and taken to Kilimani Police Station. The disappearance was reported under OB number 55/1/11/2026.
Family Seeks Answers in Court
Abdi’s brother, Zakaria Abshir, has filed an urgent habeas corpus application at the Milimani High Court.
The application seeks orders compelling security agencies to disclose the lawyer’s whereabouts and produce him before the court. The family also wants any warrant or legal authority for his detention presented.
Court documents state that Abdi’s phones have remained switched off since the incident. His family says it has been unable to establish where he is being held.
The petition names several security agencies, including the National Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, National Intelligence Service and Directorate of Military Intelligence.
The family is also seeking the preservation of CCTV recordings, vehicle tracking information, mobile phone records and other data that could help establish what happened.
Concerns Over a Makadara Court Case
The disappearance has drawn attention to a criminal matter before the Makadara Law Courts. Abdi had been representing a complainant in a case involving allegations of intimidation and interference with witnesses.
His family says he had previously received threats linked to his involvement in the proceedings. The court application alleges that he was warned to withdraw from the matter or face serious consequences.
Advocate Alex Kubo also suggested that the disappearance could be connected to the case. He alleged that Abdi had raised concerns involving officers from several security agencies.
Former Law Society of Kenya president Eric Theuri condemned the incident and called for the lawyer’s immediate release. He said attacks on advocates undermine the administration of justice.
The allegations of intimidation and any possible connection to the disappearance remain claims that require investigation.
DCI Denies Police Involvement
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has denied claims that police officers were involved in Abdi’s disappearance.
DCI Director Mohamed Amin said the National Police Service was not party to the alleged abduction. He confirmed that a team had been assigned to investigate the incident.
Amin also urged the Law Society of Kenya to share any verifiable information that could help investigators establish what happened.
His statement followed concerns raised by members of the legal profession over the circumstances of the disappearance.
Legal Fraternity Calls for Accountability
The incident has renewed concern about the safety of lawyers handling sensitive cases. Members of the legal profession have called for an independent and thorough investigation.
Vocal Africa chief executive Khalid Hussein said advocates should be able to represent clients without facing intimidation or violence. He stressed that lawyers perform an essential role in the justice system. Any attack on them, he argued, risks undermining the right to legal representation.
For Abdi’s family, however, the immediate concern remains his safety and whereabouts. The High Court is being asked to compel the relevant agencies to account for him. Investigators are also expected to establish who was involved and why he was taken.
Until Abdi is found, serious questions will remain over the circumstances of his disappearance and the protection available to legal practitioners in Kenya.
