The brother of Nairobi lawyer Abshir Ahmedsadak Abdi has identified a man captured in CCTV footage of the advocate's alleged abduction. Zachariah Abdi Abshir told a court he believed the suspect, Sayad Mohamed, is a National Intelligence Service (NIS) officer. The video footage shows several men wearing police uniforms and bulletproof vests chasing Abshir before forcing him into another vehicle. This identification was made during a habeas corpus hearing at the Milimani High Court.
Abshir's family maintains that armed security agents seized the lawyer along Muchai Road in Nairobi on the night of November 1, 2026. Eleven days after his disappearance, authorities reportedly found him alive in Sololo, Marsabit County. The Milimani High Court adjourned a habeas corpus hearing after being told he had been found. The matter came before Justice Alexander Muteti on Thursday, November 12, 2026, who adjourned the hearing to Friday, November 13.
Prior to Zachariah's identification of Mohamed in court, Senior Resident Magistrate Kiongo Kagenyo had already summoned Mohamed alongside Chief Inspector Vitalis Kibett, the Officer Commanding Station at the Nairobi Detachment of the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU). The magistrate ordered both men to appear in court and explain what they knew about the lawyer's disappearance.
Following Zachariah's identification of Mohamed in court, former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) president Eric Theuri urged members of the public to step in and help secure the suspect's arrest. Theuri called on anyone who spots Mohamed to carry out a citizen's arrest and hand him over to the nearest police station. Mohamed is said to have a silver tooth and is heavily implicated in the abduction of advocate Abshir in the video footage of his abduction.
Abshir's relatives and legal colleagues have connected his alleged abduction to an ongoing criminal case at the Makadara Law Courts, where the lawyer serves as a witness. They have also linked his disappearance to sensitive legal work involving security personnel. The allegations have drawn scrutiny toward individuals and units associated with the NIS, counterterrorism squads, and the military.
The claims of Abshir's abduction remain under active investigation and await formal determination by the courts. The court summons and calls for a citizen's arrest demonstrate the efforts being made to uncover the truth behind Abshir's disappearance. The incident has sparked concern among the public and the legal community, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in the handling of sensitive cases.
The case is set to continue on Friday, November 13, when Abshir is expected to be brought before the court. The identification of Sayad Mohamed and the calls for his arrest have added a new dimension to the case, which will likely continue to unfold in the coming days. The outcome of the investigation and the court's determination will be crucial in establishing the facts behind Abshir's alleged abduction.
Key points
- Zachariah Abdi Abshir identifies Sayad Mohamed as a suspected NIS officer in CCTV footage of the abduction.
- The abduction is linked to an ongoing criminal case and sensitive legal work involving security personnel.
- A citizen's arrest has been called for by former LSK president Eric Theuri.
