Two people, including a local administrator, were killed on Monday morning after suspected Al Shabaab militants staged a deadly dawn attack in Hulugho town, Garissa County.
Holugho chief Abdi Fatah Gani was shot dead after militants ambushed him at his residence at around 4am.
The assailants, whose number was not immediately established, are reported to have stormed the chief’s home, shot him at close range in front of his family and later torched his vehicle before fleeing the area.
As they retreated, the militants also shot dead a teacher identified as Stephen Musili, a resident of the same neighbourhood.
According to local sources, the chief had been on the militants’ radar for some time due to his efforts to flush out Al Shabaab operatives and sympathisers from the area.
“It appears the militants had been closely monitoring the chief’s movements. They were uncomfortable with his work and deliberately targeted him for elimination. They knew exactly when to strike since he had just returned from Garissa,” said a source who sought anonymity.
The source added that the teacher was killed while attempting to flee after hearing gunshots.
“When the teacher heard the gunfire, he ran out of his house. Because his house is close to the chief’s residence, the militants spotted him, pursued him and shot him several times before escaping,” the source said.
Garissa County Commissioner Mohamed Mwabudzo confirmed the incident, saying security agencies had intensified operations in the area to track down the attackers.
“It is extremely unfortunate that we have lost two lives at the hands of militants. The late chief was a hardworking administrator who played a pivotal role in ensuring the area remained peaceful. I convey my condolences to the affected families,” Mwabudzo said.
He added that a multi-agency security operation had been launched to apprehend those responsible.
“They can run, but they cannot hide. We will definitely catch up with them,” he said.
Following the attack, teachers in Holugho town appealed to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to urgently transfer them to safer areas, citing persistent security threats.
Speaking to the press in Hulugho town moments after the incident, Meshack Sifuna, one of the non-local teachers at Hulugho Primary School, said they had lived in fear for a long time due to repeated threats from militants.
“We want to continue doing our job of teaching, but we cannot work in a situation where we fear for our lives. All we are asking is to be transferred to safer schools because our lives matter,” Sifuna said.
Another teacher, Agnes Kavatha, who was a neighbour of the slain teacher, said she witnessed militants dragging Musili out of his house before shooting him.
“I can’t believe what I saw this morning. I am extremely traumatised. The militants sprayed my colleague with bullets. We came here knowing there were risks, but this is too much. We need to be transferred immediately,” she said.
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