Kenya’s legal fraternity has announced a nationwide suspension of court operations, demanding the immediate production and safe return of missing advocate Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi, whose disappearance has triggered growing concerns over alleged abductions and accountability within the country’s security agencies.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), led by its President Charles Kanjama, announced the decision on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, directing advocates across the country to down their tools and seek adjournments in courts until their colleague is found and presented before a court of law.
Abdi has been missing since November 1, 2026, when he was allegedly abducted by armed individuals in Nairobi’s Kilimani area under circumstances that remain unclear.
According to court documents presented by his family, Abdi was last seen in the early hours of November 1 along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road. His family alleges that armed men travelling in a black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX and another vehicle intercepted his white Toyota Premio before forcibly taking him away.
His vehicle was subsequently discovered abandoned in a ditch along Muchai Road and towed to Kilimani Police Station.
The family believes the advocate may have been taken by individuals linked to security agencies, an allegation that has heightened pressure on the police to establish his whereabouts. However, security officials have denied holding him in custody.
The disappearance has since become the subject of a habeas corpus application filed at the Milimani High Court by Abdi’s brother, Zakaria Abshir, seeking to compel relevant authorities to account for his whereabouts and produce him before the court.
On Tuesday, Justice Alexander Muteti cleared the way for a substantive hearing of the application, observing that allegations raised by the family warranted closer scrutiny. The judge maintained that the matter could not be halted simply because government agencies denied having Abdi in their custody.
The court directed the applicant to present evidence against the respondents, who would subsequently have an opportunity to respond.
Meanwhile, lawyers have intensified demonstrations, with members of the profession marching from Milimani Law Courts to Jogoo House, where they demanded answers from Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
LSK has also indicated plans to seek the summoning of senior security officials, including the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Inspector General, Director of Criminal Investigations and National Intelligence Service leadership, to explain the circumstances surrounding the disappearance.
Abdi’s family has made emotional appeals for his safe return, questioning why authorities have yet to establish his whereabouts despite the ongoing investigations and court proceedings.
The society maintains that the disappearance is not merely an individual case but a serious threat to the independence of the legal profession, constitutional freedoms and the rule of law.
As the nationwide court boycott takes effect, pressure continues to mount on security agencies to provide answers and establish what happened to the missing advocate.
For Kenya’s legal fraternity, the demand remains straightforward: Abdi must be found, his safety guaranteed and anyone responsible for his disappearance held accountable.
