The High Court in Nairobi has ordered for the release of controversial televangelist Gilbert Deya from remand in mid-January at Sh1 million bond.
This follows the expiring of a 120-days ultimatum by the Judge to the Director of Public Prosecution Keriako Tobiko to conclude his investigations.
Justice Luka Kimaru had issued the orders in September when he first denied Deya bond. He called for conclusion of the case within three months.
The prosecution team failed to line up witnesses as expected.
Deya’s lawyer John Sakwa asked the court to release him on bond since the DPP and his team failed to honor the court’s directive to conclude the case in 120 days.
Chief magistrate Francis Andayi thus ordered for his release on Sh1 million bond and two sureties of the same amount.
He also directed him to report on a weekly basis at Muthaiga Police Station.
However, the 120-day window closes in mid-January. This means that until then, the self-proclaimed ‘miracle worker’ could remain in remand despite the ruling by the court.
Since his extradition from the UK in August, he was remanded at Kamiti Maximum Prison. He has fought quite hard to be released on bond.
However, the Judge who first heard his case denied him bond given the weight of the charges leveled against him.
Deya has been charged with five counts of child trafficking between 2000 and 2004. He is alleged to have stolen five children between this period and took them to Mountain View estate.
They were all aged below 14 years.
Before his extradition from Britain, Deya through activism put up a brave fight blocking Britain authorities from extraditing him to Kenya.
He decried pathetic condition at Kamiti Maximum Prison where he was set to be held prompting Britain to send one of its high ranking officials to ascertain the conditions at Kamiti Maximum Prison.
After his extradition, he moved to court complaining of inhabitable and inhumane conditions in his cell which went against his extradition agreement.
He said the cell was dirty and he was given a bucket which was his toilet.
His case will continue on January 18 next year.