Televangelist Gilbert Deya, known for the infamous “miracle babies” saga, has died following a tragic road accident on the Kisumu-Bondo Road.
According to police, the crash occurred on Tuesday evening at Namba Kapiyo and involved three vehicles: a Moi University bus, a Siaya County Government Toyota Fortuner, and Deya’s Toyota Noah.
Nyanza Regional Traffic Enforcement Officer Peter Maina said the Toyota Noah, driven by Pastor Deya, lost control and collided head-on with the Fortuner. In an attempt to avoid a head-on crash, the bus veered off the road and overturned.
Deya, who was travelling with his wife and another female passenger, died at the scene. His death was later confirmed by his wife, who survived the crash. The Fortuner’s occupants were unharmed.
The accident left 15 Moi University students seriously injured. They were rushed to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kisumu, while 13 others with minor injuries were treated at Kombewa Sub-County Hospital.
Deya, 72, rose to global attention in the early 2000s through claims that infertile women could miraculously conceive after prayers. Investigations in both Kenya and the UK revealed a scheme involving child trafficking. DNA evidence showed that none of the “miracle babies” were biologically linked to their supposed parents.
He was extradited to Kenya from the UK in 2017 to face trial. In 2023, a Kenyan court acquitted him due to lack of evidence.
Deya’s death marks the end of one of Kenya’s most controversial religious journeys. Reactions have poured in across social media, with some mourning his passing while others recall the scandals that defined his legacy. His body is being held at Kombewa Hospital Mortuary.
