Senior Counsel Nelson Havi and missing city lawyer Abshir Abdi (in a mugshot). /FILE

Senior Counsel Nelson Havi has called on Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Charles Kanjama to mobilise advocates for demonstrations at Vigilance House to demand the immediate release of their colleague Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi, who was allegedly abducted in Nairobi.

Havi said the legal profession must take collective action against what he described as persistent interference by State security agencies in the work of advocates.

Abdi was reportedly abducted in the early hours of Sunday, November 1, along Muchai Drive in Nairobi. His vehicle was later recovered along the same road.

Former LSK president Eric Theuri said the incident was reported at Kilimani police station under OB number 55/1/11/2026.

CCTV footage purportedly showing the abduction has since circulated widely on X, prompting concern within the legal fraternity, with lawyers alleging that security officers were involved.

"There can be no doubt that that is the case because criminals or civilians do not possess the capacity that was seen in that clip," Havi said.

The LSK has since filed a habeas corpus application seeking to compel the police to produce Abdi before court, dead or alive.

Havi said the incident should concern the entire legal profession, warning that attacks on advocates undermine the administration of justice and the rule of law.

He cited the murder of lawyer Kyalo Mbobu by people suspected to be police officers as another incident highlighting the security concerns facing members of the profession.

"As advocates, we must say no to these persistent interferences in our work by the State, in particular, State agencies in the security sector," he said.

While awaiting the court's directions on the habeas corpus application, Havi urged Kanjama to organise demonstrations at police headquarters to pile pressure on security agencies to account for Abdi's whereabouts.

"There's a need to be more vigilant and proactive. I ask the president of the Law Society of Kenya to quickly call for immediate action. Action entails us moving to Vigilance House demanding over and above the habeas corpus we have in court that the police produce Abdi without any further delay," Havi said.

He also called on the court to expedite the proceedings, warning that Abdi's life could be in danger if he was still alive.

"We must march down to Vigilance House, protest and demand the immediate release of Abdi. We did it before, we've done it many times, it has to be done now," he said.

The CCTV footage shows Abdi being pursued by three unidentified men at about 4.43am on Sunday, November 1.

He initially outruns the men and attempts to jump over the gate of a residential compound, but two of the alleged abductors, who are wearing hooded jumpers, catch up with him.

A third man alights from a vehicle following the group and joins the assault, kicking Abdi as he is held down.

The men appear to be armed. The third individual then signals for a vehicle to approach before one of the hooded men opens its rear left door and Abdi is bundled inside. The vehicle and the one that had followed the group then drive away.

Theuri said accounts from eyewitnesses indicated that Abdi had been pursued by a Prado TX and a double-cab pickup, whose occupants were armed.

He added that two of the occupants were dressed in what appeared to be police uniforms and bulletproof vests.

"The abduction is linked to a case he’s involved in against some senior police officers and he’s been subjected to various intimidation tactics prior to this incident," Theuri said in a statement.

He warned that the incident raised wider concerns about the safety of advocates and the independence of the justice system.

He added that the alleged involvement of police in extra judicial abductions continue to prevail despite repeated assurances that they would end.

"An attack against an advocate is an attack on the administration of justice and due process of law," he said.