The National Intelligence Service (NIS), Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and other security agencies have been ordered by the High Court to produce missing Nairobi lawyer Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi before the court, dead or alive, as investigations into his disappearance intensified.
The directive was issued on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, by Milimani High Court Judge Alexander Muasya Muteti following an urgent application filed by the lawyer’s family seeking to establish his whereabouts.
The court certified the application as urgent, directing the relevant government agencies and security officials to comply with its orders and account for the missing advocate.
In its first directive, the court declared the matter urgent and suitable for immediate consideration after hearing submissions from lawyers representing the applicant and respondents.
“That the upon hearing Counsel for the applicants, this matter is certified urgent and fit for immediate determination,” the court directed.
The judge subsequently ordered the specified respondents to produce Abdi’s body before the court at 2:30 pm, regardless of whether he was alive or dead. The order placed several security agencies and officials under pressure to disclose the lawyer’s whereabouts following his reported abduction by armed men in Nairobi.
“That an order be and is hereby issued directing the 3rd, 4th , 5th, 9th, 10th ,11th, 12th,13th ,14th Respondents to produce the body of the subject Abshar Ahmedsadak Abdi live or dead before this Honorable court at 2:30 Pm,” the court added.
The court also summoned the specified respondents to appear personally or through their appointed legal representatives and explain the circumstances surrounding the lawyer’s disappearance.
They were further directed to present any warrants of arrest that may have authorised his arrest and detention, and explain why he should not be released immediately if he was being held in custody.
“The 3rd, 4th, 5th ,6th,9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th Respondents are summoned to appear in person or through their duly appointed Counsel together with any warrants of arrest authorizing the arrest and detention of the subject and show cause why the said subject should not be immediately released from custody,” the court further said.
Among the respondents named in the proceedings were the Director of the National Intelligence Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, the National Police Service, the Counter Terrorism Bureau, the Directorate of Military Intelligence, Attorney General Noordin Haji, Amin Mohammed and Major General Mohammed Burje, among others.
The court directed that the application and its orders be served on all respondents for immediate compliance. The matter was scheduled for hearing in open court at 2:30 pm on Wednesday.
The judge also warned the respondents and anyone else who might disregard the directives that failure to comply would attract legal consequences.
“Take notice that any disobedience or non-observance of the order of the court served herewith will result in penal consequences to you and any other person(s) disobeying and not observing the same,” the court warned.
Abdi was reportedly abducted by armed men along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road, in Nairobi, in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, 2026.
According to CCTV footage cited in reports, the incident occurred at approximately 4:41 am as the lawyer drove his white Toyota Premio, registration number KDL 356C.
His vehicle was allegedly pursued by a black Toyota Land Cruiser Prado TX before another black double-cabin pickup joined the pursuit and blocked his path.
Abdi reportedly lost control of his vehicle and drove into a drainage channel. He then emerged from the car and attempted to escape by running towards a nearby gate.
However, several armed men wearing tactical clothing and balaclavas reportedly caught up with him, struck him, blindfolded him and restrained him before forcing him into a waiting black Land Cruiser.
His abandoned vehicle was subsequently recovered along Muchai Road and taken to Kilimani Police Station, with the disappearance reported under OB number 55/1/11/2026.
The disappearance raised concerns over Abdi’s safety, particularly because he had reportedly experienced threats and intimidation linked to a criminal case he was handling at the Makadara Law Courts.
He was representing a complainant and serving as a key witness in criminal case number MCCR/E2910/2025, Republic versus Ahmed Ali Mohamed.
According to an affidavit filed by his brother, Zakaria Abshir, the lawyer had previously complained about alleged interference and threats involving officers linked to the National Intelligence Service, Anti-Terrorism Police Unit, DCI and Directorate of Military Intelligence.
The family alleged that the officers had threatened Abdi and the complainant with abduction and death unless they withdrew from the criminal proceedings.
The affidavit also referred to an incident in October 2025 when Abdi was reportedly arrested by officers allegedly attached to the ATPU, NIS and military intelligence. He was subsequently released after the prosecution declined to approve an application seeking custodial orders against him.
His family believes his disappearance could be connected to his involvement in the Makadara criminal proceedings, although the allegations have not been independently established.
Following his disappearance, his brother moved to the High Court seeking urgent intervention, including orders compelling security agencies to disclose his whereabouts and produce him before the court.
The family also sought preservation of CCTV footage, vehicle tracking information, mobile phone records and other electronic evidence that could help establish what happened to the lawyer.
Meanwhile, DCI Director Mohamed Amin had dismissed suggestions that police officers were involved in the alleged abduction, confirming that the National Police Service had received a report and constituted a team to investigate the incident.
“Yes, it is true we have received a report. We have constituted a team of competent officers to undertake investigations.”
The DCI chief also appealed to the Law Society of Kenya to share any information that could assist investigators in establishing the circumstances surrounding Abdi’s disappearance.
