Kenya 'miracle baby' wife jailed

Mrs Deya's husband says he aids infertile couples by prayer

The wife of Kenyan pastor Gilbert Deya accused of child trafficking has been sentenced to two years in jail by a Nairobi court for stealing a child.

Mary Deya claimed that one of her two accomplices had given birth to the child, but the court proved the woman was not the biological mother.

"The actions and claims of miraculous birth deserve no mercy," Magistrate Teresia Ngugi said.

Kenya has requested the extradition of UK-based evangelist Mr Deya.

No amount of the sentence can undo the damage done to the life of the child Magistrate Teresia Ngugi

He runs a number of churches in UK cities and says he aids infertile couples by prayer.

Kenyan police allege the Gilbert Deya Ministries is an international baby-snatching ring, allegations Mr Deya denies.

Some children were taken into care in Kenya when DNA tests showed they were not related to women claiming to be their mothers.

"No amount of the sentence can undo the damage done to the life of the child who may never know who his biological parents are," said Ms Ngugi is quoted by Kenya's Daily Nation as saying on Wednesday.

Mrs Deya's co-accused - Miriam Nyeko and Rose Kiserem - were also jailed for two years.

The women claimed that Ms Nyeko, who is a British citizen, had given birth to the baby boy.

She was sentenced to another one year in prison - to run concurrently - for obtaining a false birth certificate.