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Cuban Government gives update on 'missing' doctors after meeting Kenyan officials

President William Ruto when he met Cuban state officials led by Esteban Lazo Hernandez, the President of the National Assembly of People's Power at State House on February 22, 2024. (Photo: PCS)

By Mary Wambui | Tuesday, February 27, 2024

Currently, security agencies from Kenya and Somalia are actively investigating the matter.

The Cuban government has confirmed having received "sensitive" information into the alleged deaths of its doctors Assel Herrera and Landy Rodríguez Hernández who were kidnapped by suspected Al Shabaab militia while offering medical services in Kenya.

The two doctors were stationed at the Mandera County Referral Hospital at the time of their kidnapping on April 12, 2019.

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In a statement on Monday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriquez said the delegation that came to Kenya last week in search of clarification into the alleged death claims had received information that would enhance the ongoing probe over the state of the two doctors.

"I thank the government of Kenya for its cooperation in obtaining sensitive information that helps advance the still limited clarification of the current situation of Cuban doctors Assel Herrera and Rodrigues Hernandez," the Minister posted on X.

A statement from the ministry added that the information obtained is currently being processed by the authorities in charge of closely monitoring the probe.

"Meanwhile, efforts continue with various governments and international actors in search of cooperation and greater clarification," the Ministry added.

Probe ongoing

Currently, security agencies from Kenya and Somalia are actively investigating the matter to get the facts regarding the state of the two doctors.

The two Cuban doctors Assel Herrera Correa and Landy Rodríguez Hernández, who were kidnapped in Kenya in 2019. (Photo: X/Embacuba_Turqui)

"A statement on the same will be issued by the right office at some point, for now, we wait," a high-ranking official aware of the matter told The Eastleigh Voice.

Past attempts by security agencies to have them rescued failed and their whereabouts long remained unknown until two weeks ago when the militant group alarmingly claimed that they were killed in "multiple drone strikes" in the southern Somali city of Jilib on February 15, claims that are yet to be independently verified.

The US Africa Command (AFRICOM) in a statement to AFP on Monday, confirmed that an air strike had been conducted against the Al Shabaab network near Jilib on that date but added that it was not aware of the strike having killed two civilians.

"We do not have any further information at this time about these reports, but we do take all claims of civilian casualties seriously," it said.

Cuban said that on receiving the claims of the doctors' deaths, they gave priority to efforts by international actors to help obtain facts about the matter to obtain the most objective information regarding the events.