The assassination of Stephen Vundi Musili was not a random act of terror; it was the chilling conclusion of a two-year hunt. The 35-year-old teacher, brutally murdered by suspected Al-Shabaab militants in Garissa, had been living on borrowed time since an eerie warning was left for him by attackers who swore they would return.

Musili, a teacher at Hulugho Primary School, was shot dead at dawn on January 26, 2026. He was killed alongside the local Chief, Abdifatah Gani, in a coordinated raid that has sent shockwaves through the teaching fraternity. But it is the backstory of his death that reveals the terrifying vulnerability of non-local teachers in the North Eastern region.

"Wait for Lion Two"

His wife, Leah, fought back tears as she recounted the omen. Two years ago, militants ambushed Musili but spared his life. They took his shoes and left a note inscribed with a cryptically terrifying message: "Lion One. Wait for Lion Two." They had marked him. On that fateful Monday, "Lion Two" arrived.

The attackers stormed his compound at 1:00 AM. They first targeted the Chief, blowing up his vehicle and shooting him. Then they turned their guns on Musili. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-27)He attempted to flee but was gunned down a short distance from his house. He had only been permanently employed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) in January 2025, a dream cut short after just one year.

• The Target: Both the Chief and the teacher were specific targets. The Chief had been on a hit list for his cooperation with security forces.
• The Response: The TSC has expressed "great sadness," describing Musili as a dedicated educator who served in a difficult environment. But condolences do not stop bullets.
• The Exodus: The attack has reignited the demand by non-local teachers to be transferred from the region. "We are sitting ducks," one colleague told the press.

A System Failure

Musili’s death is a damning indictment of the state’s inability to protect its civil servants in volatile zones. He stayed to teach despite the threats, driven by a passion for education and the need to provide for his family.

Now, his body lies at the Chiromo Funeral Home in Nairobi, miles away from the dusty classroom where he gave his life. The "Lion" may have claimed its prey, but the blood is on the hands of a system that knew the threat was real and did nothing.