Widow of Controversial “Miracle Baby” Preacher Gilbert Deya Found Dead in Bondo

The widow of controversial Kenyan preacher Gilbert Deya has been found dead at her home in Bondo.

Mary Anyango Deya was discovered lifeless at her residence on March 16, 2026, in an incident that has shocked residents in the area. Her sudden death has left neighbours and family members in deep mourning as police begin investigations to determine what may have happened.

Authorities say the cause of her death is not yet known. Officers have launched an inquiry to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident. Her passing has also revived memories of the controversial religious story that once attracted international attention.

Mary Deya’s death comes exactly nine months after the death of her husband, Gilbert Deya. The preacher died on June 17, 2025, following a tragic road accident at Namba Kapiyo along the Kisumu–Bondo highway in Kisumu County. Reports at the time indicated that the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a trailer that had allegedly lost its brakes.

The “Miracle Babies” Claims

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Gilbert Deya and his wife gained global attention through their church, Gilbert Deya Ministries, which was based in the United Kingdom.

The preacher claimed he had the power to help infertile or older women conceive children through prayer alone. According to his teachings, women could become pregnant with what he called “miracle babies” without sexual relations.

Some women who believed in the claims were told they were pregnant and later travelled to clinics in Nairobi to give birth.

However, investigations later raised serious concerns about the claims. Reports suggested that some babies were allegedly taken from hospitals, including Pumwani Maternity Hospital, and given to the women. DNA tests conducted during investigations reportedly showed that many of the children had no biological connection to the supposed parents.

Arrests and Court Cases

The controversy led to several legal battles. Mary Anyango Deya was arrested in 2005 and later served prison sentences in Kenya for child theft and obtaining false birth certificates.

Meanwhile, Gilbert Deya spent several years in the United Kingdom fighting extradition to Kenya. He argued that he could face unfair treatment if he was returned to the country.

After nearly a decade of legal challenges, he was eventually extradited to Kenya in August 2017 to face child trafficking charges.

In a surprising development, a Nairobi court acquitted him in May 2023 after ruling that prosecutors had not provided enough evidence to directly link him to the alleged crimes.

Renewed Attention After Their Deaths

The deaths of Gilbert and Mary Deya within a span of nine months have once again drawn public attention to one of the most controversial religious scandals connected to Kenya in recent decades.

While the preacher died in a road accident in 2025, the circumstances surrounding the death of his widow remain unclear. Investigations are ongoing as police seek to establish the exact cause of her death.