A Kenyan court sentenced a Somali man to life in prison on Wednesday for the abduction of two Cuban doctors by Al Shabaab in April 2019.
The convict, identified as Isaac Robow in court documents, was sentenced on Wednesday after the court found him guilty of kidnapping, supporting a terrorist attack, and fraudulently acquiring an identity card.
He was assigned to drive the two Cuban doctors Rodriguez Hernandez and Assel Correa when they were ambushed by Al Shabaab militants while working for the Mandera County Government.
The Cuban doctors were part of a delegation on an exchange program in the country.They were leaving their hotel to go to the local hospital for employment.
During the attack, a police officer assigned to protect them was killed, but the driver, Robow, survived and was captured right away.
Robow was sentenced to life in prison for supporting a terrorist act and 25 years in prison for kidnapping by Milimani Magistrate Martha Nanzushi. He will also spend an additional six months for fraudulently acquiring an ID card, with both offences running simultaneously.
Al Shabaab released the two doctors in October 2020 after negotiations with Cuban officials and the Kenyan government, but it is still unclear whether a ransom was paid.