Controversial Pastor Gilbert Deya dies in road crash on Kisumu-Bondo Highway

Controversial preacher Bishop GIlbert Deya./FILE

A tragic road accident along the Bondo-Kisian road has claimed the life of Bishop Gilbert Deya and left 30 others injured.

The accident occurred at Namba-Kapiyo area and involved three vehicles: a school bus belonging to Moi University, a Toyota Fortuner belonging to the County Government of Siaya, and a Toyota Noah.

According to Nyanza Traffic Boss Peter Maina, the driver of the Toyota Noah, which was heading from Kisian towards Bondo, lost control and rammed into the school bus that was on its way to Kisumu.

In a bid to avoid a head-on collision, the school bus driver swerved but ended up rolling off the road.

A third vehicle, the County Government’s Toyota Fortuner, which was trailing the bus, was hit in the process.

“The deceased, Bishop Gilbert Deya, was driving the Toyota Noah and had two female passengers, believed to be his wife and another woman, who sustained minor injuries," Traffic Boss Maina said.

Maina noted that among the victims, 15 students from the school bus were seriously injured, while another 15 sustained minor injuries.

“In total, we have 31 people were affected, one fatality, 15 students with serious injuries, and 15 with minor injuries”, he said.

The body of Bishop Deya was taken to the Kombewa Sub-County Hospital morgue.

The injured, the Traffic Boss noted were also rushed to the same facility for treatment, with three of the victims referred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital for further medical attention.

Authorities have launched investigations to determine the exact cause of the accident.

The wreckage of the vehicle at the accident scene./HANDOUT

Deya rose to national and international notoriety in the late 1990s and early 2000s through his “miracle babies” claims.

He led the Gilbert Deya Ministries, a church that claimed infertile women could conceive through prayer and divine intervention.

His ministry, based in the UK at the height of its fame, faced serious legal challenges after investigations linked him to a child trafficking ring.

The wreckage of the vehicle at the accident scene./HANDOUT

He was extradited from the United Kingdom to Kenya in 2017 after a lengthy legal battle and was charged with multiple counts related to child theft.

Though he denied all charges, the cases became a significant legal and ethical controversy, raising questions about religious exploitation and accountability.

At the time of his death, Deya had largely stepped away from the public spotlight but remained a polarizing figure within religious and legal circles.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident and working to determine whether any additional parties were injured.

His body was taken to a local mortuary as the scene was cleared.