I’m not selling ‘miracle’ cancer cure, it’s the power of prayers: Deya
Controversial Kenyan evangelist Gilbert Deya has denied claims by a British newspaper that he has been selling ‘anointed’ olive oil to cure cancer and HIV.
Speaking to the Nation on phone from the UK on Tuesday, Mr Deya confirmed that there were two undercover journalists who attended his church for two months, but said the two were not truthful.
“We have never, ever said we heal people of cancer and HIV with olive oil,” said a calm Mr Deya on the line from London.
EVIL PEOPLE
“That is manipulation of information. And that is why when they contacted me for the story, I said I don’t talk to evil people.”
Mr Deya accused the British media of being biased, calling the two reporters “agents of the devil” who deliberately failed to report when he was acquitted of rape charges in 2014.
According to a story published by The Sun newspaper in London, Mr Deya sells the extra-virgin olive oil in his church shop at inflated prices compared to local supermarkets because he claims it has healing properties.
But the preacher Tuesday said his outlet is a private business away from the church that not only sells olive oil, but also Christian reading material, snacks and books.
DOES NOT HEAL
“We do not sell the olive oil because we claim it has healing powers; we sell it as part of the goods in the shop. Olive oil does not heal cancer or HIV, we pray for all sicknesses” he said.
London press also reported that Mr Deya claims to pray for infertile women to conceive and give birth to miracle babies, an allegation that the preacher denied on Tuesday.
“There is nowhere I said that I make infertile women give birth. The women I minister to are the ones saying that they were barren and after I prayed for them, they can now conceive. If a miracle happened to the people I minister to, then they are the ones giving the evidence and the testimony, not me.”
EXTRADITION
The Kenyan government requested for Mr Deya’s extradition in 2007 so that he could answer charges of baby theft in Kenya.
He has battled this extradition for close to a decade now which he claimed has cost him over Sh150 million (£1 million).
Mr Deya said that the Kenyan authorities had refused to withdraw evidence against him despite the fact that he was acquitted.
