‘Don’t Hire Cuban Doctors!’ – US Warns Kenya, Claims Human Rights Violation
The administration of US President Donald Trump has advised nations not to get into arrangements with the Cuban government to hire its doctors.
On Monday, April 7, the US Department of State issued a statement accusing the Cuban government of violating human rights.
The United States claims that state authorities benefited unduly from the earnings of medical missions at the expense of the country’s healthcare experts.
According to the US Department of State, Cuban medical missions that once operated in Kenya were not humanitarian help, as claimed, but rather exploitative scams by the Cuban government.
WATCH: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says the United States doesn’t have a problem with the exchange of Cuban medical professionals as it currently operates in Jamaica.
— Nationwide90FM (@NationwideRadio) March 26, 2025
Secretary Rubio says the US’ issue is the forced labour of Cuban doctors in other places around the world. pic.twitter.com/qsuc3g6c02
According to Trump’s administration, the exploitative schemes disguised as health missions were a kind of forced labor for Cuban medical personnel who were forced to travel to various nations against their choice.
The US government also discovered that the Cuban government seized up to 95% of workers’ earnings, restricted their movement, and intimidated individuals who attempted to leave the health missions.
“Cuba’s medical missions are not humanitarian assistance: The program is exploitative and shows strong evidence of forced labor,” read part of a statement by the US Department of State.
“The Cuban regime confiscates up to 95 per cent of workers’ wages, restricts their movement, and threatens those who try to leave.”
This is not the first time the Cuban government has been on the receiving end of health missions.
On March 27, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Cuban healthcare officials, accusing them of human trafficking and labor exploitation.
CUBAN DOCTOR DEFENDS CUBA'S MEDICAL BRIGADES
— African Stream (@african_stream) March 31, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently attacked Cuba's international medical brigades. On 25 February, the Miami-born Cuban announced any country's officials found accepting Cuban medical solidarity may lose their US visas.
This… pic.twitter.com/TdhlUEbNSB
The US government even threatened to restrict visas to programme officials unless they followed international labor regulations.
It is worth noting that Kenya is one of the countries under the spotlight for hiring Cuban doctors.
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In 2017, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime reached a contentious arrangement with Cuba to hire 100 doctors.
Uhuru’s administration proceeded to dispatch foreign doctors to various hospitals throughout the country at the expense of taxpayers’ money.
This was amid strong condemnation from some members of parliament and Kenya Medical Practitioners, Pharmacists, and Dentists Union (KMPDU) leaders.
However, in October 2023, President Ruto’s government declined to renew the 6-year-old deal. The announcement was made by former Health Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha.
‘Don’t Hire Cuban Doctors!’ – US Warns Kenya, Claims Human Rights Violation
