Nairobi-based lawyer Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi has reportedly been found alive in Sololo, Marsabit County, 11 days after he went missing in an incident that sparked nationwide concern and renewed calls for accountability over alleged abductions in Kenya.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) confirmed the development on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with its president, Charles Kanjama, announcing that the missing advocate had been located.
However, Kanjama said the information was still undergoing verification at the time of his announcement, adding that the family was expected to confirm Abdi's whereabouts after completing the necessary checks.
He also noted that anyone released after an alleged abduction should report to a police station to ensure the incident is officially recorded.
Abdi's disappearance had triggered an intense search by his family, fellow lawyers and human rights advocates, with the matter eventually moving to the Milimani High Court.
The advocate was reportedly abducted in the early hours of November 1, 2026, along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road in Nairobi.
According to accounts presented by his family and the LSK, Abdi was allegedly pursued by occupants of two vehicles, a Toyota Prado TX and a double-cabin vehicle.
Some of the individuals were reportedly armed, with witnesses claiming that others wore clothing resembling police uniforms and bulletproof vests.His vehicle was later recovered abandoned along Muchai Road, but there was no trace of him.
The LSK condemned the incident and demanded that security agencies establish his whereabouts. The society also called on the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) to investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
Abdi's family subsequently filed a habeas corpus application at the Milimani Law Courts, seeking orders compelling government agencies to produce him before the court.
On November 4, Justice Alexander Muteti directed several state agencies named in the case to produce the advocate before the court, dead or alive, and explain whether he had been arrested or detained.
The case took another turn after the government agencies denied holding Abdi in custody.
On November 10, the High Court directed that the application proceed to a substantive hearing, allowing his brother, Zakaria Abshir, to present evidence concerning the disappearance.
During court proceedings on November 11, Zakaria presented CCTV footage and photographs which he said showed his brother being taken away by armed individuals.
The family also raised concerns about an earlier incident in October 2025, when Abdi was reportedly arrested and questioned by security officers.
According to court documents, the lawyer had previously complained about intimidation linked to his involvement in a criminal case at the Makadara Law Courts, where he was reportedly a complainant and a material witness.
The LSK had expressed concern that his disappearance could be connected to his professional involvement in the case and called for an independent investigation.
Following the reported discovery, questions remain about what happened during the 11 days Abdi was missing, the circumstances surrounding his recovery and whether anyone will be held responsible.
The LSK has maintained that the search for answers and accountability must continue, even as the reported discovery offers hope to his family and the legal fraternity.
The circumstances of his recovery and his physical condition had not been independently established at the time of the initial announcement.
