Lawyers have demanded the immediate release of their colleague, Abshir, who they say was abducted six days ago, raising concerns over the safety of legal practitioners and the rule of law in the country.
The lawyers, led by East Africa Law Society (EALS) President Ramadhan Abubakar, accused state agencies of failing to account for their colleague's whereabouts despite growing pressure from the legal fraternity.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, Abubakar said the alleged abduction had exposed lawyers to increasing threats and intimidation, warning that the situation could undermine their ability to carry out their professional duties.
He claimed that lawyers and members of the press had already faced harassment, warning that the situation could worsen if urgent action was not taken.
He questioned the government's failure to establish the whereabouts of the missing lawyer, saying state agents had indicated that they did not have him in their custody.
Abubakar maintained that the government had a constitutional responsibility to protect every citizen, including legal practitioners, adding that lawyers should be allowed to perform their duties without fear of intimidation.
He further insisted that if there were allegations against Abshir, the proper legal procedure was to arrest him, present him before a court and allow him to answer to the charges rather than subjecting him to an alleged abduction.
Charles Kanjama also condemned the incident, calling for an end to what he described as a growing culture of impunity and forced disappearances.
Meanwhile, Abshir's brother, Zakaria Abshir, said the family had spent six days without knowing the whereabouts of their relative, insisting that the incident should be treated as an abduction rather than a disappearance.
He expressed frustration over the uncertainty facing the family, particularly their parents, who he said were struggling to establish what had happened to their son.
He questioned how individuals carrying firearms could operate without being identified, arguing that those authorised to possess guns and conduct security operations were known.
Zakaria also accused authorities of attempting to tarnish his brother's reputation instead of addressing the family's concerns and providing information about his whereabouts.
He questioned why his brother could not be presented before a court if there were legitimate accusations against him, arguing that the judicial system should be allowed to determine his fate.
He further appealed to Kenyans to consider the plight of families affected by alleged abductions, saying national security should ultimately serve the interests of citizens.
The family also raised concerns about two other individuals who were reportedly with Abshir at the time of the incident, saying one had also been reported missing while the whereabouts of the other remained unclear.
Kanjama announced that the lawyers would proceed to Jogoo House, police headquarters in Nairobi, where they intended to present a memorandum to Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja.
The lawyers are seeking answers from the police and demanding accountability over their colleague's whereabouts.
