Reports emerging on Thursday, November 12, 2026, indicated that Abdi had been discovered in a thicket in Isiolo County, after being missing for 12 days. Amnesty International Kenya also confirmed receiving reports that the advocate had been found dumped in the area earlier that morning.
The development has renewed hope among his family, colleagues and members of the public who had been following the search for the lawyer since his disappearance on November 1.
However, at the time the reports emerged, the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) said it was still verifying information about his discovery and awaiting confirmation from his family. LSK President Charles Kanjama said the society had received reports that Abdi had been found alive and was working to establish the facts surrounding the development.
Abdi's disappearance followed an alleged abduction along Muchai Road, off Ngong Road, in Nairobi, in the early hours of November 1. According to information presented in court by his family, armed individuals allegedly pursued his vehicle before forcing him out and taking him away in another vehicle.
His white Toyota Premio was reportedly found abandoned along Muchai Road, raising further concern about his safety and whereabouts.
The incident prompted his family to seek the intervention of the High Court through a habeas corpus application. The application sought to compel state agencies to account for his whereabouts and produce him before the court.
On November 4, the High Court directed the relevant state agencies to produce Abdi before it, dead or alive, and explain the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. The case attracted widespread attention, with lawyers demanding answers from the authorities.
The Law Society of Kenya also intensified pressure on security agencies, organising protests and pursuing legal action to ensure that Abdi's whereabouts were established.
The latest reports of his discovery have therefore marked an important development in a case that has remained a major concern for the legal profession.
Amnesty International Kenya has called for a prompt, independent and impartial investigation into the circumstances of the alleged abduction and the lawyer's subsequent discovery. The organisation wants authorities to establish what happened during the period he was missing, identify those responsible and ensure that anyone found culpable is held accountable.
The society has also maintained that the search for answers must continue, including establishing the whereabouts of another missing person, Ayub Mohamud Maalim.
While news of Abdi's reported discovery has raised hopes, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear. Authorities are expected to establish where he was held, what happened during the 12 days and whether he suffered any injuries or mistreatment.
For Abdi's family and the legal fraternity, the immediate priority remains confirming his safety, ensuring his well-being and obtaining clear answers about the events that led to his disappearance.
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