NAIROBI, 4 November 2026: Amnesty International Kenya is deeply concerned by the abduction of Advocate Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi, who was seized by armed individuals along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road, in Nairobi, at approximately 4:43 a.m. on 1 November 2026. We condemn this latest incident and call for his immediate and unconditional release. We also call for the arrest of those responsible.
Media reports and CCTV footage capturing the incident show armed individuals pursuing Abdi before forcibly taking him away. The apparent use of police-grade weapons and tactical equipment by the abductors raises serious concerns about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and the possible involvement of security personnel.
We are particularly concerned by reports that Abdi had been handling a case before the Makadara Law Courts in which he had raised complaints against police and intelligence officers.
If Abdi is suspected of having committed any offence, the authorities must follow the law and due process. He should have been promptly arrested, informed of the reasons for his arrest, granted access to legal representation and presented before a competent court within the constitutionally prescribed period. No individual or security agency has the authority to abduct, detain or subject anyone to enforced disappearance outside the law.
This incident adds to a deeply troubling pattern of abductions and disappearances in Kenya, including the recent abduction of Tanzanian national Twaha Mwaipaya in October 2026, the abduction of Standard Media Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich in September 2026 and the June 2026 abduction of activists Boniface Mulinge Muteti, Elisha Ochieng Alam, Collins Otieno, Fredrick Odhiambo Ojiro, Christine Alubengo and Michael Ngige during the June 25th memorial protest. Although Kiprotich and the six activists were subsequently found, the latter dumped with sever torture injuries, the circumstances surrounding their abductions and the progress and outcome of investigations remain matters of public concern. The missing Voices Coalition has, so far, documented 22 incidents of enforced disappearances in 2026. The continued absence of accountability in such cases emboldens perpetrators and undermines public confidence in law enforcement institutions.
The National Police Service must urgently clarify the circumstances surrounding Abdi’s abduction, including whether its officers or other security agencies were involved. It must provide credible and timely updates on investigations into this incident and previous abduction cases, including that of Alex Kiprotich. Any attempt to intimidate, abduct or subject a lawyer to violence because of their professional work constitutes a grave attack on the administration of justice, the rule of law and the independence of legal practitioners. The authorities must not allow these cases to disappear into silence or remain unresolved without accountability.
Article 29 of the Constitution of Kenya guarantees every person the right to freedom and security of the person, including protection from arbitrary deprivation of freedom, violence, torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. Article 49 further guarantees the rights of arrested persons, including the right to be informed promptly of the reason for their arrest and to be brought before a court as soon as reasonably possible, and no later than 24 hours after arrest, as provided by law.
Amnesty International Kenya calls on the National Police Service, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and all relevant security agencies to:
- Immediately establish Abdi’s whereabouts and secure his release, or, if he is being held in lawful custody, produce him before a competent court without further delay and in full compliance with High Court orders.
- Conduct prompt, independent, impartial and effective investigations into his abduction and immediately identify and arrest all those responsible, regardless of their position, rank or institutional affiliation.
- Publicly clarify the circumstances surrounding the abduction, including whether any police or intelligence officers, vehicles or state-issued weapons were involved, and provide regular updates on the investigations.
- Provide updates on investigations into previous abduction cases, including that of Standard Media Group Associate Editor Alex Kiprotich, and ensure that all perpetrators are brought to justice.
- End the targeting, intimidation and unlawful arrest of professionals who are undertaking legitimate human rights work, including lawyers, journalists and human rights defenders. Their professional responsibilities must never expose them to violence, threats, abductions or other forms of unlawful interference.
The Kenyan authorities have a constitutional and international obligation to protect everyone within their jurisdiction, uphold the rule of law and ensure that no one is above the law. Abductions cannot become an alternative to lawful arrest, and security agencies cannot operate outside the Constitution.
ENDS
Signed:
George Morara
Executive Director, Amnesty International Kenya
For media inquiries and interviews, contact:
Mathias T. Kinyoda | Mobile: +254 786 725 434 | Email: [email protected]