The family of a prominent Eastleigh businessman has moved to the High Court seeking urgent intervention after he was allegedly abducted by masked men believed to be security officers.
In a constitutional petition filed at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, the family of Abdi Aidid Ali claims the 52-year-old businessman was forcibly taken by unidentified men suspected to be officers attached to the Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
The case has been filed through lawyer Mwaura Wakabata of Alakonya & Associates.
According to court documents, the alleged abduction occurred on March 7, 2026 at around 7:40 pm along Mohammed Yusuf Haji Avenue, formerly known as 1st Avenue, in Eastleigh.
Court papers state that Ali was reportedly driving his vehicle, registration number KDJ 941F, when masked men intercepted him and forcibly removed him from the car.
“My client was forcibly removed from his vehicle by masked men who have since refused to reveal his location,” Wakabata states in the court filings.
The lawyer argues that the incident amounts to a serious violation of Ali’s constitutional rights, including the right to life, liberty and dignity.
The petition states that more than 48 hours have passed since the incident and that Ali has neither been taken to a known police station nor presented before any court.
His family says they have made several attempts to establish his whereabouts without success.
Through the urgent application, the family is now asking the High Court to compel the authorities to immediately disclose where he is being held and to produce him before the court at Milimani.
“Every day that passes without knowing where he is puts his life at risk and causes extreme anguish to his family. We are asking the court to intervene immediately to prevent further violations and ensure justice is served,” the application states.
The petition has been filed under Articles 19, 20, 21, 22, 25 and 258 of the Constitution of Kenya, which protect fundamental rights and allow individuals to move to court where those rights are threatened or violated.
The family is also seeking orders for his unconditional release unless he is formally charged in accordance with the law, and for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the alleged abduction.
Lawyer Wakabata argues that the case raises broader constitutional concerns about unlawful arrests and enforced disappearances.
“This is not just about my client; it is about upholding the rule of law and ensuring that no person is above the Constitution,” he says in the court papers.
Ali is the owner of ATIS Hotel, which has branches in Eastleigh and Parklands.
Family members describe him as a well-known philanthropist who has supported several community initiatives in Eastleigh, including contributing to the construction of the California Police Station.
His son told the court that if the authorities wanted his father, they could have summoned him instead of allegedly taking him in the manner described.
The family says they remain uncertain whether the businessman is in the hands of government agents or criminal elements.
They are now urging the court to act urgently to establish his whereabouts and ensure his safety.
