A pastor who has been ordered repatriated to Kenya to face child trafficking charges plans to cite the deteriorating political situation at home in his appeal against a UK court’s ruling.
Mr Gilbert Deya, who runs a south London-based ministry, had already claimed in court that he was a victim of political vendetta by the Kenyan Government because of his criticism of it.
He was arrested by the UK authorities following an extradition request by the Kenyan Government in December 2006.
UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has backed a ruling given by a Westminster court last November that Mr Deya should be extradited and given an order to that effect.
But the pastor’s lawyers say they will appeal their case as far as the European Court on Human Rights, if necessary.
A UK judge ruled that the pastor should be extradited to face trial on counts of baby-trafficking.
Miracle babies
Mr Deya is at the centre of the so called “miracle babies” story involving births by previously barren women as a result of prayer.
During the extradition hearing, the court heard that the Kenyan police allege that the pastor’s church is an international baby-snatching ring. Their investigation centres around the disappearance of babies from Nairobi’s Pumwani Maternity Hospital.