Authorities closing in on suspects behind Hulugho killings, officials say

Northeastern Regional Commissioner John Otieno speaking to the press after the regional security meting. /STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Meshark Makwara of Hulugho Comprehensive School speaking to the press in Garissa town last week. He is flanked by fellow teachers from the area./STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Non-local teachers from Holugho speaking to the press in Garissa town last week. They are seeking transfers from the area following the killing of their colleague./STEPHEN ASTARIKO.

Authorities have made substantial progress in pursuing suspects behind the killing of a teacher and a local administrator in Hulugho, Garissa county two weeks ago.

Northeastern regional commissioner John Otieno told journalists at a press conference in Garissa that investigations were at an advanced stage.

During the January 26 attack, Stephen Musili, a teacher at Hulugho Primary School, and area chief Abdifatar Gani by suspected al Shabaab militants. The assailants later torched the chief’s vehicle before fleeing.

“Let me say that the incident that took place in Hulugho was an unfortunate one. Our security agencies are carrying out investigations and are about to catch up with those who were involved in the killing of the teacher and the chief,” Otieno said shortly after chairing a security meeting on Saturday.

He was flanked by top security officials, including Northeastern Regional Police Commander Papita Ranka.

They sought to allay fears of a resurgence of militant attacks in the region, describing the Hulugho incident as isolated.

“I would describe the security situation in the region as fairly stable, with only isolated incidents taking place. Generally, you will agree with me that such incidences have significantly gone down compared to previous years,” Otieno said.

He added that adequate measures had been put in place to safeguard the region.

“We have deployed enough security personnel and availed sufficient resources to deal with militants and ensure the safety of residents,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has renewed calls for the immediate transfer of non-local teachers stationed in insecure border areas.

Last week, KNUT officials, led by Chief Officer John Gitari and newly elected Garissa executive secretary Abdirizack Hussein, said teachers’ safety must never be compromised.

Speaking after the Garissa KNUT branch elections, Gitari urged the Teachers Service Commission to redeploy non-local teachers from insecurity-prone areas, particularly along the Kenya–Somalia border.

“All teachers who come from outside the region and are currently stationed in insecure areas, especially along the border with Somalia, must be transferred immediately. TSC should deploy local teachers instead. We cannot compromise the security of a teacher under any circumstances,” Gitari said.

Hussein questioned how both a teacher and an administrator could be killed in an area with a heavy security presence, warning that such incidents could negatively impact education in the region.

Following the attack, non-local teachers working in Hulugho appealed to the Ministry of Education and TSC to relocate them.

Speaking to journalists in Garissa town, teachers who fled the area said they were frustrated by what they termed a delayed response from TSC.

Led by Meshark Makwara of Hulugho Comprehensive School, the teachers described the region as increasingly unsafe for non-local educators, saying they had unanimously resolved not to return to work.