Controversial Bishop Gilbert Juma Deya has been charged with five counts of child theft in a Nairobi court following his arrest early this morning.
The self-proclaimed Archbishop, known for claiming to provide “miracle babies” to couples struggling with infertility, is accused of abducting children, all under the age of 14, from the Mountain View estate in Nairobi on various dates between May 20, 2002, and August 19, 2004. Deya, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Francis Andayi at the Milimani Courts alongside others not currently in court, denied the allegations against him. Having led a congregation of 36,000 members in the UK, Deya was apprehended at 4 a.m. at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport upon his arrival.
An affidavit from a law enforcement officer revealed that the charges against him were initially filed in 2005, relating to offenses committed between 1999 and 2004. The prosecution, led by Nicholas Mutuku, opposed Deya’s release on bail, citing concerns that he might flee, given that he had lived in the UK for over 12 years after allegedly committing the crimes.
Following the issuance of an arrest warrant in 2005, the Kenyan government sought Deya’s extradition from the UK, where he fought the legal proceedings but ultimately lost, leading to a court ruling in 2007 that mandated his extradition.
In response, Deya’s attorneys, John Swaka and Cliff Ombeta, requested that the court grant their client bail, arguing that he poses no flight risk. Swaka informed the court that after Deya’s arrest at the airport, he was taken to the CID Headquarters for processing, where his fingerprints and personal information were recorded.
Mr. suaka told the court that Deya is actually willing to go for a DNA test adding that his client has no desire to interfere with the investigations.
The court was told that Deya being a spiritual father to many, some of them including Apostle James Maina Ng’ang’a of Neno Evangelism center and Apostle Musili are willing to voge for him that he shall attend court.
The magistrate will make the ruling on whether to release Deya on bond on 10th August.In the meantime he will be remanded at Kamiti Maximum Prison.
