Controversial Kenyan televangelist Gilbert Deya, who claimed to create miraculous pregnancies, has died in a road accident near the town of Kisumu in western Kenya.
Deya, 72, was involved in a collision with a university bus and another vehicle on Tuesday evening, resulting in his death and injuring at least 30 others, including his wife and 15 students.
Deya rose to infamy in the early 2000s with his claims of helping infertile couples conceive “miracle” babies through prayer. However, investigations linked his church to an alleged child-trafficking ring, leading to his arrest and extradition from the UK eight years ago.
Although he was acquitted of the charges in 2023 due to insufficient evidence, his ministries had faced multiple investigations for alleged mismanagement and legal violations.
Deya’s church, Gilbert Deya Ministries, was a registered charity with branches across the UK and Africa.
He was known for his charismatic preaching style, but his claims of creating “miracle” babies were later found to be linked to backstreet clinics in Nairobi, where babies were allegedly stolen from poor families.
The circumstances surrounding the accident are still under investigation, and the death of Deya has been met with a mix of reactions, with some mourning the loss of a religious leader and others reflecting on the controversies surrounding his life and ministry.
