Cuban doctors' kidnap: Intelligence and action key to stemming attacks

The arrival of 100 Cuban specialist doctors was met with a mixture of skepticism and approval. As they settled down to work, stories emerged of how well they blended with locals and the impact they were having in their fields. All was well until Kenya yesterday woke up to grim news that two of them had been abducted in Mandera.

What could have gone wrong, that a government which knows only too well the dangers that bedevil the region could be caught flat-footed in a case involving the expatriates? In the past, Kenyans have lost lives in Mandera, in attacks instigated by terrorist elements. The least the government could have done was to ensure continuous surveillance and beefed up security. With a fledgling healthcare, Kenya cannot afford to lower its guard in its duty to rein in such brazen attacks that only serve to hurt the lives of people by disrupting government services.