Missing lawyer Abshir Abdi: NIS, anti-terror, army officers summoned

A court in Nairobi has summoned several officials from three security agencies following the abduction of lawyer Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi in Nairobi.

Senior resident magistrate Kiongo Kagenyo of the Makadara Law Courts summoned Chief Inspector Vitalis Kibett (Officer Commanding Station, Nairobi Detachment of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit), Kennedy Kimani Karanja (ATPU Nairobi), Siyad Mohamed of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), Ali Hassan of the Kenya Defence Forces (Directorate of Military Intelligence, KDF) and Nimo Adan, identified as a resident of Eastleigh. 

They are believed to be among a group of people who had been threatening the abducted lawyer following a case they have with him at the court in Makadara. The case in question was to be ruled on today (Monday).

Mr Kagenyo ruled that the security officers should appear in court on November 13 for cross examination by an advocate from the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) and the complainant and witness who was abducted. 

Lawyers protest

Mr Abdi's family says was abducted by armed men along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road, on November 1, 2026.

Lawyers took to the streets of Nairobi on Friday, blowing whistles and carrying placards to protest the disappearance of Mr Abdi and demand an end to abductions in the country.

Separately, there's a a habeas corpus application at the High Court in Milimani, Nairobi, in which the family wants security agencies compelled to disclose Mr Abdi's whereabouts and present him before the court. The matter is scheduled for further directions on November 10.

Chief Inspector Kibett had told the court last week that investigators had previously suspected Mr Abdi of involvement in an extortion ring. He said police had sought 30 days to interrogate the advocate through a miscellaneous application at the Kahawa Law Courts, but the prosecutor declined to certify the application.

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