The death of controversial televangelist Gilbert Deya in a road accident on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, has reignited memories of one of the most sensational religious scandals in Kenya’s history— the “miracle babies” saga.

For many who followed the rise and fall of the self-declared archbishop in the early 2000s, Deya’s name is synonymous with controversy, fame, and scandal.

Lydia Mrunde, 45, a resident of Kongowea, in Mombasa, recalls a time when Deya drew mammoth crowds at Tononoka grounds in Mombasa.

“Stories of miracle babies were all over. Everyone wanted to see how he performed the so-called miracles,” she said.

“I remember a dark, chubby woman claiming she had been barren. After prayers from Deya, she said she began giving birth every two months.”

At the time, Deya shared the stage with other prominent preachers, including Pastor James Ng’ang’a, in rallies that blended spiritual theatrics with growing public curiosity.

While some might have forgotten the drama, for others, Deya’s fame remains. Mrunde’s friend and neighbour, Patience Akinyi, still keeps a T-shirt labelled Gilbert Deya, which she got from the Mombasa mega rally.

“The rally was well-attended. People from all walks of life came. We saw the sick healed and the crippled walk, and it was such a blessing. I was demoralised to hear about the scandal when the government started pinning him down,” she said.

On Tuesday evening, the controversial preacher’s journey came to a tragic end on the Kisumu-Bondo highway.

Police said Deya was driving a Toyota Voxy towards Bondo when he lost control and rammed into oncoming traffic near Namba Kapiyo.

His vehicle first collided with a Moi University bus ferrying students from an educational tour in Bondo, then hit a Toyota Fortuner belonging to the Siaya County Government.

Nyanza Regional Traffic Police Boss Peter Maina confirmed the incident, noting that Deya succumbed to head injuries.

“The deceased was driving the Voxy with two female passengers, one believed to be his wife and another woman. Both sustained minor injuries,” said Maina, adding that investigations were underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.

Deya’s body was moved to the mortuary for autopsy.

Born on February 2, 1937, in Juja, Kiambu County, Gilbert Juma Deya was the 11th of 15 children in a family that struggled with poverty. His father worked as a labourer on a sisal plantation.

Deya married Mary Anyango at age 21, and the couple had 15 children.

In 1976, he founded the Salvation of Jesus Christ Church in Kenya. With time, his dynamic preaching attracted a large following, prompting him to assume the title “Archbishop” and later establish the United Evangelical Church of Kenya.

In the mid-1990s, Deya moved to the United Kingdom and, in 1997, launched the Gilbert Deya Ministries. The church rapidly expanded, establishing branches in major UK cities, including London, Leeds, and Liverpool, with a reported following of over 30,000 people.

Deya’s rise to international prominence came through bold claims of supernatural powers—most notably, the ability to help infertile women conceive through prayer, resulting in what he called “miracle babies.”

The claim quickly spiralled into international controversy. Women, some reportedly from the UK, would allegedly conceive after receiving prayers from Deya, travel to Kenya, and return with newborns.

However, in 2004, Kenyan authorities carried out DNA tests that revealed many of these babies had no biological link to the women claiming to be their mothers.

A police raid on the Deya residence in Nairobi found several children, sparking allegations of child trafficking. Deya’s wife, Mary, was arrested and later convicted of stealing a child from Kenyatta National Hospital in 2005.

In the same year, Kenyan authorities issued an arrest warrant for Deya. He was arrested in the UK in December 2006 following an extradition request and spent over a decade fighting to stay in Britain.

Despite his appeals, he was extradited to Kenya in August 2017 to face five counts of child stealing.

Kenyan acquittal

The scandal also drew scrutiny from UK regulators. Ofcom revoked the broadcasting licence for Praise TV, which aired Deya’s services, citing misleading medical claims related to the miracle babies.

In June 2023, after prolonged court proceedings, a Nairobi court acquitted Deya due to insufficient evidence. Following the verdict, Deya expressed interest in returning to the UK.

Bishop Deya’s legacy remains polarising.

To his followers, he was a charismatic spiritual leader with divine gifts. To his critics, he symbolised exploitation and deception, preying on the desperation of the vulnerable.

Even after his extradition and court battles, Deya continued his ministry through satellite TV and radio broadcasts, never retreating from public life.