The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Related Articles
Cuba’s House Speaker, Lazo Hernández, has held discussions with President William Ruto regarding the situation of two doctors who were kidnapped in Kenya by Somalia-based militants nearly five years ago.
Hernández made the trip to Kenya amidst unverified reports suggesting that the two doctors abducted in Mandera County in 2019 may have been targeted in a US drone strike.
During the meeting on Thursday, Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale was also present. Additionally, Hernández met with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to address the same issue.
The visit by Hernández follows claims by al Shabab, an Islamist extremist group, that the two doctors were killed in a US air strike in Somalia the previous week.
A statement from the Cuban ministry indicated that Hernández traveled to Kenya to engage in urgent discussions with the country’s highest authorities regarding the recent reports on the potential death of doctors Assel Herrera Correa and Landy Rodriguez Hernandez, who were abducted on April 12, 2019.
According to the Islamist militant group, the two doctors were allegedly killed in “multiple drone strikes” in the southern Somali city of Jilib on February 15.
While the US Africa Command acknowledged conducting an airstrike against the al-Shabab network near Jilib on the specified date, it noted awareness of reports alleging civilian casualties.
The two doctors were abducted by suspected jihadists while being escorted to work in Mandera, Kenya, where they were stationed at the local hospital as part of a 100-member Cuban medical brigade operating under a bilateral agreement.
The abduction resulted in the tragic death of one of the police officers escorting the doctors.
Hernández reportedly engaged Kenyan authorities to seek cooperation and clarification regarding the reported deaths of the two doctors.
The Cuban government, in collaboration with international partners, has intensified efforts to gather accurate information on the status of their nationals and has maintained constant communication with Kenya and Somalia in hopes of rescuing the abducted doctors.
