The State has pulled out four Cuban doctors from hospitals in two coastal counties and beefed up the security of nine others in four devolved units.

This follows the abduction of two doctors in Mandera County last weekend.

“The Cuban doctors from Lamu and Tana River have been recalled to Nairobi. The Government knows why they were recalled,” said Coast Regional Commander Marcus Otieno.

Mr Otieno refused to say whether the doctors’ evacuation was connected to the Mandera incident.
Reports indicate that the Cuban Embassy in Nairobi advised its nationals in areas bordering Somalia to return to Nairobi out of safety concerns. The four doctors were spirited away by road and helicopter, respectively, on Saturday for an overnight stay in Mombasa before flying to the capital city on Sunday.
In Kwale, the security of two female doctors who treat patients at the Kwale and Msambweni district hospitals has been enhanced.

They have been moved from Msambweni township, where they have been staying since their deployment last year, to a more secure location within the county.

Three doctors from the Caribbean State are working in Mombasa while Taita Taveta has two doctors in Voi and Taveta sub-counties.