By: TPA News Desk | editor@thepointafricanews.com

KISUMU, Kenya – Gilbert Juma Deya, the controversial self-styled archbishop known for his “miracle babies” claims, died on Tuesday evening, June 17, 2025, after his vehicle was involved in a horrific multi-vehicle accident near Kisumu town in western Kenya. Police confirmed Deya died on the spot at the scene of the crash.

The fatal collision occurred at the Namba Kapiyo area in Seme-Sub County, along the Bondo-Kisian road. The accident involved Deya’s Toyota Noah, a bus belonging to Moi University, and a Toyota Fortuner from the Siaya County Government. According to Nyanza Traffic boss Peter Maina, Deya was driving when his vehicle lost control and collided with the university bus. The bus, which was ferrying students, swerved to avoid a head-on collision but lost control and rolled, subsequently being hit by the trailing County Government vehicle.

The incident resulted in a total of 31 casualties, with Deya being the sole fatality. Among those injured were 30 university students, with 15 sustaining serious injuries and another 15 suffering minor injuries. Deya’s vehicle also carried two female passengers, believed to be his wife and another woman, both of whom sustained minor injuries. The injured were transported to Kombewa Sub-County Hospital, with three critically injured students transferred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) for advanced medical care. Authorities have launched investigations to determine the precise cause of the accident.

Deya, born on February 2, 1937, gained significant notoriety in the early 2000s for his claims that he could help infertile or post-menopausal couples conceive “miracle babies” through prayer, without sexual intercourse. He had lived in Britain since the mid-1990s, where he ran a church in London.

His claims attracted the attention of authorities, leading to investigations that linked his ministry to an alleged child-trafficking ring. He was accused in Kenya of stealing five children between 1999 and 2004. After a decade-long legal battle, Deya was extradited from the UK to Kenya in 2017 to face criminal charges. He consistently denied the allegations and was ultimately acquitted of all charges in 2023 due to insufficient evidence. His death brings a definitive end to the life of a figure who captivated and divided public opinion across continents.