Senior Counsel Nelson Havi has asked Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Charles Kanjama to mobilise advocates for protests at Vigilance House, the police headquarters. He wants police to release lawyer Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi, who was allegedly abducted in Nairobi, The Star reported. Havi said the legal profession must act collectively against what he called persistent interference by state security agencies.
According to The Star, Abdi was reportedly abducted in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, on Muchai Drive in Nairobi. His vehicle was later found on the same road. Former LSK president Eric Theuri said the case was reported at Kilimani police station under OB number 55/1/11/2026. The LSK has filed a habeas corpus application to compel police to produce Abdi in court, dead or alive.
CCTV footage that reportedly shows the abduction has circulated widely on X. In the clip, three unidentified men chase Abdi at about 4.43am. He first outruns them and tries to jump over the gate of a residential compound. Two men in hooded jumpers catch him. A third man gets out of a vehicle following the group and kicks Abdi as he is held down. The men appear to be armed. Abdi is then bundled into the back of a vehicle, and both vehicles drive away.
Theuri said eyewitnesses reported that a Prado TX and a double-cab pickup with armed occupants chased Abdi. He said two of the occupants wore what looked like police uniforms and bulletproof vests. According to Theuri, the abduction is linked to a case Abdi is handling against some senior police officers. He added that Abdi had faced intimidation before the incident.
Lawyers allege that security officers were involved. Havi said that "criminals or civilians do not possess the capacity that was seen in that clip." He also cited the murder of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu by people suspected to be police officers. He said attacks on advocates undermine the administration of justice and the rule of law.
Havi said advocates should not simply wait for the court to rule on the habeas corpus application. He asked the court to speed up the case. He warned that Abdi's life could be in danger if he is still alive. "We did it before, we've done it many times, it has to be done now," he said of the march. Theuri said police involvement in extrajudicial abductions continues despite repeated assurances that it would end. The Star did not carry any response from the police.