Lawyers threaten nationwide strike until advocate Abshir Abdi is found

For the second time, lawyers and family members visited the Supreme Court and Jogoo House, where they presented their grievances to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, seeking answers over Abdi's disappearance.

Meanwhile, the High Court in Milimani has cleared the way for a substantive hearing of a habeas corpus application seeking to establish the whereabouts of the missing lawyer.

Justice Alexander Muteti ruled that the application was ready for hearing, noting that the applicants had presented evidence warranting scrutiny of allegations against state security agents.

"The allegations in the affidavit of the applicant are damning and invite a greater degree of scrutiny of the conduct of the state agents in investigating the matter complained of by the subject in his letter to the DCI prior to his disappearance," Justice Muteti said.

The judge's decision came despite security officials maintaining last week that they had neither abducted Abdi nor held him in their custody.

Justice Muteti, however, observed that the state had the technical, technological and logistical capacity to resolve cases involving disappearances and complex criminal investigations.

"The state has at its disposal technical, technological and logistical capability to resolve issues of disappearances and complex criminal matters. Thus, in resolving a matter of this nature, the scales of justice must be evenly balanced. The state demonstrated that capability in R v Leliman, which involved the kidnapping and murder of advocate Willie Kimani," he said.

The applicants, who are expected to testify on Wednesday, told the court they had obtained photographs and video footage allegedly showing officers involved in Abdi's arrest in 2025. They believe the material could help unravel the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Abdi's lawyer, Eric Theuri, said the footage could help identify individuals seen in the video allegedly abducting the advocate.

"We are satisfied to a certain degree that we could be able to identify one, if not two, of the persons who are seen in the later video abducting Mr Abshir," Theuri said.

The Law Society of Kenya (LSK), which is the first interested party in the case, also indicated that it would seek the summoning of senior security officials to explain the recent cases of abductions and enforced disappearances in the country.

LSK President Charles Kanjama said the society intended to request the court to summon senior officials from the security establishment, including the Interior Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Director of Criminal Investigations, Deputy Inspector General and the National Intelligence Service.

"We intend to request for the summoning of the senior officers in the state security establishment, starting with the CS, PS, IG, DCI boss, DIG, NIS," Kanjama said.

The society's Vice President, Teresia Wavinya, also raised concerns over delays in investigations by the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), particularly cases involving serious human rights violations.

"We are concerned by the reports of delay in advancing the investigative work of IPOA, arising from the technical committee of the IPOA board, particularly in the investigations and conclusion of cases involving serious human rights harm," Wavinya said.

As the legal process continues, the prolonged disappearance has taken a toll on Abdi's family, who are now appealing for intervention from the Head of State.

His brother, Zakaria Abshir, questioned where the family should turn to for answers about his missing sibling.

"Who do I ask for my brother? From where can I source him? Where can I find him? That is the question I am asking all the heads of security organs," he said.

Abdi Hassan, a relative of Ayub, who was reportedly last seen with Abdi, also called on security agencies to produce the two men if they were in their custody.

"Our brother Ayub was last seen together with Abshir, so it is 99 per cent that he has been abducted together with Wakili. If they are in the hands of security agencies, please bring them," he said.

In protest over the continued cases of enforced disappearances, lawyers have announced plans to down their tools and seek adjournments in courts across the country until Abdi is produced.