UK-based preacher probed over child trafficking

A Britain-based preacher who claims to perform miracles on barren women is being investigated in connection with an alleged child-trafficking ring that spans five countries, Kenyan police said today.

The wife of self-proclaimed archbishop Gilbert Deya , who is based in Peckham, south-east London, and four others were charged in Nairobi with stealing two babies – infants Deya claims are the result of miracles he performed on barren or post-menopausal women.

Prosecutor Moses Odoyo told the court the investigation into alleged child-trafficking involves suspects in Britain, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda, as well as Kenya.

Police now are investigating allegations that Deya’s claims are a cover child-trafficking, spokesman Jaspher Ombati.

“The wife is in custody and we believe they might be working together and the miracle babies are said to be connected to his ministry,” Ombati said.

“So investigations are on and once they are complete and, if it is felt that he is connected, he will be required to come here for necessary action.”

Ombati said Kenyan police will follow “normal extradition procedures” to get Deya to Kenya.

“We are not limiting ourselves. We are just casting our net wide … we want to come to the bottom of this issue of miracle babies,” Ombati said.

Deya’s Kenyan wife, Mary Juma Deya another Kenyan woman, Rose Kiserem and a Uganda-born woman who holds a British passport, Miriam Nyeko, were charged with stealing a baby girl in February from Nairobi’s Pumwani Maternity Hospital.

A Kenyan couple, Michael and Eddha Odera, were charged with stealing a boy under the age of 14 in 2000, from Njokerio Farm in Njoro, 87 miles north-west of the capital.

All pleaded innocent to the charges.

Nairobi Chief Magistrate Aggrey Muchelule said he will decide on Wednesday whether to grant the suspects bail.