Rebecca Deya, the third child of televangelist Gilbert Deya, has revealed that she found out about her father’s demise through social media platform – Facebook.
“Nilikua nacheza kwa living room with my husband, halafu nikapata taarifa hio katika Facebook,” Rebecca said in an interview with Radio47’s Maskanhttps://radio47.fm/show-schedule/i 47 Show.
She said that although she, along with her 6 siblings, was brought up in a Christian family, it was not easy for them, since her father was going through a lot of challenges regarding his ministry.
“We have all been brought up in a very mature Christian way, it was not easy when we were brought up because a time reached ambayo Baba alikua anaenda through a lot of war and troubles. Ninashukuru at the end of the day, he was acquitted.”
The controversial televangelist, infamously known as the ‘miracle babies pastor’, died on Tuesday, June 17, in a tragic road accident involving 3 vehicles along the Bondo-Kisian road.
ALSO READ: ‘Miracle babies’ preacher bishop Gilbert Deya dies in a road accident
The accident occurred at the Namba Kapiyo area in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu County, involving a bus belonging to Moi University, a Toyota Fortuner belonging to the County Government of Siaya, and Deya’s Toyota Noah.
Deya, who moved to London in the 1990s, came to the limelight following the ‘miracle babies’ saga, where he was accused of child trafficking, which led to his arrest and extradition from the UK.
He was later acquitted of the charges in 2023.
However, the family remembers Bishop Deya as a man who had a great focus on God and was committed to serving people.
“What we know ni hio focus ambayo Baba alikua nayo kwa Mungu, na alitia bidii kwa maisha yake, actually alichukua people more as a family. Ata alikua more committed to people more than his own children, kwa sababu alikua kanisani kila siku,” Rebecca said.
She also confirmed that on Tuesday, July 29, a prayer service will take place at All Saints Cathedral, followed by a memorial service at CITAM Valley Road, and finally, Bishop Deya will be laid to rest on August 2.
