Kisumu: Controversial Bishop Gilbert Deya died yesterday while 30 university students were injured, 15 of them critically, following a tragic accident involving three vehicles along the Bondo-Kisian road. The accident occurred at Namba Kapiyo area in Seme-Sub County of Kisumu and involved a bus belonging to Moi University, a Toyota Fortuner belonging to the County Government of Siaya, and Deya's Toyota Noah.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nyanza Traffic boss Peter Maina stated that Deya was driving from Kisian towards Bondo when his vehicle lost control and rammed into the university bus, which was on its way to Kisumu. Maina explained that the driver of the university bus, which was ferrying students, swerved to avoid a head-on collision but lost control and rolled. A third vehicle, the County Government's Toyota Fortuner, which was behind the bus, was hit in the process.
Maina reported, "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." He further detailed that 15 students sustained serious injuries, while 15 others suffered minor injuries. "In total, we have 31 people who were affected, one fatality, 15 serious injuries, and 15 minor injuries," he added.
The body of Bishop Deya was taken to Kombewa Sub-County Hospital morgue. The injured were rushed to the same facility for treatment, with three of the victims referred to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) for further medical attention. Maina mentioned that investigations have been launched to determine the exact cause of the accident.
Gilbert Deya, who moved to London in the 1990s, came to the limelight following the miracle babies' saga, where he was accused of stealing five children between 1999 and 1999. The Bishop and his wife Mary claimed that infertile or menopausal women could become pregnant in four months, without having sexual relations, thanks to their prayers. The late bishop, who owned several churches, including some in London, Liverpool, and Nottingham, was extradited from Britain to Kenya in 2017 after a legal battle lasting almost 10 years. He was, however, acquitted by Nairobi court Magistrate Robison Ondieki, who ruled that the prosecution had not produced sufficient evidence.