The High Court has been moved to intervene in the disappearance of Nairobi lawyer Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi, who was allegedly abducted by armed men dressed in tactical military gear along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road, in the early hours of November 1, 2026.
Abdi’s brother, Zakaria Abshir, has filed an urgent habeas corpus application at the Milimani High Court, seeking orders compelling various security agencies to produce the advocate before court and explain his whereabouts.
In the application, the family claims that Abdi was seized at around 4am on November 1 by unknown armed men who allegedly forced him to kneel before bundling him into a black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX. According to court documents, the men were armed with guns and dressed in tactical military-style gear when they intercepted the lawyer. His white Toyota Premio, registration number KDL 356C, was subsequently discovered abandoned along Muchai Road before being towed to Kilimani Police Station.
In an affidavit supporting the application, Zakaria told the court that members of the public had informed investigating officers that they witnessed Abdi’s vehicle being pursued by two vehicles, a black Prado TX and a black double-cabin pickup, before it veered into a ditch.
“The members of the public further informed the investigating officer that they saw the armed individuals arrest the occupant of the white motor vehicle and forcefully drag him into the Land Cruiser TX,” he stated.
The family says Abdi’s mobile phones have remained switched off since the incident, with his whereabouts still unknown. A missing person report was subsequently lodged at Kilimani Police Station under Occurrence Book number 55/1/11/2026.
The habeas corpus application raises concerns that Abdi’s disappearance could be connected to an ongoing criminal case at the Makadara Law Courts, in which he is reportedly a witness.
His brother claims the advocate had previously received threats allegedly from individuals linked to the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), Counter Terrorism Bureau and Kenya Defence Forces. According to the affidavit, the individuals allegedly warned Abdi to withdraw from the criminal proceedings or face abduction and death.
The court documents further indicate that Abdi was arrested on October 9, 2025, by officers allegedly drawn from intelligence and security agencies. However, he was released unconditionally after the Director of Public Prosecutions declined to approve an application seeking custodial orders against him.
His brother claims that Abdi subsequently lodged complaints with senior security officials over the alleged threats and previous arrest, but no meaningful action was taken.
Through the application, the family wants the court to compel the National Intelligence Service, Directorate of Military Intelligence, National Police Service, DCI and Counter Terrorism Bureau to produce Abdi in court within 24 hours. They are also seeking orders requiring the agencies to present any warrant of arrest, detention order or other legal authority that may have been used to arrest or detain the advocate.
The family further wants the court to summon named security officials to explain their alleged involvement in the disappearance. In addition, the application seeks preservation of CCTV footage, vehicle tracking information, mobile network records and other electronic evidence covering Muchai Road and its surroundings at the time of the alleged abduction. The family argues that preserving the evidence is critical to establishing what happened to Abdi and identifying those responsible.
The application also seeks the involvement of the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) and the Intelligence Service Complaints Board in investigating the circumstances surrounding the lawyer’s disappearance. The two institutions are being asked to conduct independent investigations and submit their findings to the court within 14 days.
The family wants the court to urgently intervene, arguing that the continued disappearance of the advocate raises serious concerns about his safety and the circumstances under which he was allegedly taken away. The habeas corpus application seeks to establish whether Abdi is being held by any state security agency and, if so, the legal basis for his detention.
The case places renewed scrutiny on the accountability of security agencies and the constitutional protection against arbitrary arrest, abduction and unlawful detention.
