‘Miracle babies’ bishop charged with child theft

Archbishop Gilbert Deya.  (Photo: Courtesy)

The proverbial long arm of the law finally caught up with controversial UK-based televangelist Gilbert Deya after 12 years of dodging prosecution over child theft.

Archbishop Deya, known for his miracle babies scandal, was deported from UK and arrived in Kenya on Friday morning. Upon his arrival, he was taken to Directorate of Criminal Investigations offices to record a statement.

He was later taken to the Government Chemist for DNA samples before being charged at Milimani Court with stealing five children.

Chief magistrate Felix Andayi ordered that he be detained at Kamiti Maximum Security Prison until August 10 when his application to be granted bail will be determined.

Deya was charged with five counts of stealing five underage children between 1999 and 2004 and he fled to London where he has been battling extradition proceedings with the UK government for the last 12 years.

35 years in jail

In the first count, he was said to have stolen a child aged 14 years and renamed him Elijah Opiyo Deya. The incident happened at Mountain View Estate between May 2002 and August 2004.

He also renamed the four other children as Miriam Adondo Deya, Naomi Gilbert Deya, Ruth Akello Deya and Joshua Gilbert Deya.

His wife Mary Deya, was charged with similar offences in 2005 and was found guilty and jailed for three years.

Away from the his grandiose pulpit at Archbishop Gilbert Deya Ministries in London, the cleric was yesterday rubbing shoulders with a motley crew of offenders, some of whom were petty criminals and others jailbirds facing serious criminal offences.

He sat pensively in the dock looking subdued, his face forlon, as his lawyers engaged the prosecution on his bail application.

The prosecution, led by senior assistant Director of Public Prosecution Nicholas Mutuku pointed out that Deya could flee the country given that he faces a maximum of 35 years in jail if found guilty.

“He was in the country at the time the theft took place but fled as soon as he realised the police were looking for him. He even knew about the cases but chose to fight us in Britain instead of coming back to find out what the charges are,” Mutuku said.

According to the prosecution, Mr Deya has not shown any respect for the Kenyan criminal justice system and was only forced to come to Kenya after his fight to remain in the UK reached a dead end.

But through his lawyers John Swaka and Cliff Ombeta, the cleric denied going into hiding after his wife was charged, and said that denying him bail will be against his right to dignity and fair trial.

“He fought his extradition case in the UK for 12 years without fleeing that country. He is here to fight his case until the end and has no intention of fleeing the country,” Swaka said.

The lawyers argued that Deya is a highly regarded cleric having mentored several preachers including Pius Muiru of Maximum Miracle Centre and James Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism and that keeping him in custody is only meant to humiliate him.

Mr Swaka added that Deya is prepared for the trial and his son has already bought him a house in Nairobi where he will stay throughout the trial.

Mr Ombeta also defended Deya, saying the charges are weak and do not warrant him being denied bail.