Wife of ‘miracle baby’ preacher arrested

A KENYAN court yesterday brought a charge of child theft against the wife of a self-styled Kenyan archbishop who says his prayers bring “miracle babies” to barren women.

Prosecutors charged Mary Deya, wife of “Archbishop” Gilbert Deya, with stealing a child from an unknown parent at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya’s biggest hospital, on September 10.

She denied the charge and was remanded in custody until September 30, when her case will be heard. Prosecutors said she faced similar cases of child theft pending in court.

Mary Deya said she delivered a “miracle baby” over the weekend but doctors at the hospital examined her, dismissed her claim as false and called the police who arrested her.

On Monday, a Kenyan court issued an arrest warrant for her UK-based preacher husband, accusing him of stealing five children between 1999 and last year.

Deya, whose ministry is based in southeast London, says his prayers result in miracles.

Kenyan authorities say his “church” is part of an international ring responsible for kidnapping babies and small children and passing them off as the offspring of infertile women.