The court on Monday, July 17 acquitted controversial televangelist Bishop Gilbert Deya of five counts of child trafficking by a Nairobi Court.
In his judgement, Milimani Senior Principal Magistrate Robinson Ondieki stated that the prosecution did not establish a prima facie case against Deya.
Moreover, the Magistrate said the evidence provided did not place Bishop Deya where the five children were found.
“The prosecution having failed to establish circumstantial evidence, I acquit the accused under section 250 of the CPC,” the magistrate ruled.
The controversial preacher was facing five counts of stealing five children, all aged below 14 years, between 2002 and 2004, at Mountain View estate.
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2017 ‘Miracle Babies Saga’
Bishop Gilbert Deya was linked to the miracle babies’ saga in 2017.
Deya was in the UK at the headquarters of his church when child trafficking allegations emerged.
As such, Britain deported the televangelist on August 4, 2017, after a Kenyan Court charged him with stealing and harboring five children in his house.
However, Deya denied all the five counts, claiming the state had fabricated the case against him without evidence.
Through his lawyer John Swaka, Deya had asked the court to acquit him for lack of evidence.
Likewise, the preacher argued that the court maliciously charged him with the same offence that his faced and acquitted for lack of evidence.
Nevertheless, Bishop Deya thanked God for his freedom adding that he only regrets his damaged reputation.
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“I have been suffering since 2004, It has been a yoke on my shoulder, that has put me in a dilemma. It is sad that I have been labelled a child trafficker.
I thank the British government for giving me protection for 12 years. They said I had no case to answer based on evidence given to them …. My reputation has been damaged but I am grateful that am free, and I will continue with the mission Jesus gave me on earth” Deya stated.
