Stephen Musili, a 35-year-old teacher at Hulugho Primary School in Garissa County, was killed by suspected al-Shabaab militants on January 26, 2026.
Musili had survived a previous attack in 2024, but the threats against him persisted, highlighting the dangerous conditions faced by non-local teachers in northeastern Kenya.
Musili’s ordeal began years earlier when armed militants ambushed him, leaving a chilling warning: “Lion One. Wait for Lion Two.”
Despite repeated requests to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) for a transfer to a safer location, Musili’s appeals were denied.
He continued teaching in Hulugho, determined to support his family, which included his wife, Leah, and their two children, as well as his parents and siblings.
On the day of the attack, gunmen first entered a female teacher’s home, declaring they would not harm women.
Under duress, she revealed Musili’s location. When the attackers found him, he attempted to hide but was shot in the legs and then executed with a fatal shot to the back.
Hours earlier, he had spoken calmly with his wife on the phone, unaware of the danger that awaited him.
Musili’s death has sent shockwaves through the local community and the teaching profession.
His sister, Winfred, also a teacher in Hulugho, expressed fear for her own safety and vowed not to return unless redeployed to a safer area, echoing the concerns of 33 other non-local teachers who have sought transfers.
Colleagues noted that Musili’s ability to speak Somali and his close interactions with residents may have made him a target, as some militants suspected him of being an undercover agent.
The TSC, criticized for its slow response to safety complaints, has now deployed a multi-agency team to assess the situation and improve teacher security in the region.
Teachers’ unions continue to call for urgent measures to protect educators in conflict-prone areas.
By Tuko