Britain’s nursing authorities said yesterday they would investigate whether UK midwives colluded in an alleged Kenyan baby-snatching ring run by a London-based evangelical church.
Authorities in Kenya and Britain have taken custody of more than 20 children from members of the church.
Kenyan authorities are seeking the extradition of Mr Gilbert Deya, a south London preacher who claims to have used the power of prayer to make infertile women bear “miracle babies,” sometimes giving birth three or more times in a year.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council, which regulates the two professions in Britain, said it was looking into claims by the church that midwives had vouched the births were genuine.
“Midwives and nurses must be trustworthy, and it would be misleading for a health care professional to endorse the biologically impossible,” Ms Christina McKenzie, head of midwifery, said in a statement.
Kenyan authorities say DNA tests show the children are not related to the women who claim to be their mothers. They have charged Pastor Deya’s wife and two of his followers with kidnapping.
Mr Deya, now in Scotland, says he is innocent and the “miracles” are true. His lawyers are fighting his extradition, saying he will not receive a fair trial in Kenya.
The Kenya Government Chemist has for over one month delayed releasing the DNA results to some 47 parents claiming the 20 so-called miracle babies.
By yesterday afternoon, only 25 out of the 45 samples had been analysed.
According to the Director of Medical Services, Dr James Nyikal, the Government Chemist was expected to release the results to the police. However, a source at the Government Chemist revealed that although the samples had been analysed, they still await compiling and writing of reports before they are forwarded to police.
The source said the two-month delay was caused by the breaking down of the only machine available.
Three other parents yesterday visited the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters to lay claim to the children who are still lodged at the Nairobi Children’s Home in Kabete.
Only one of the children whose DNA matched to Mrs. Mary Deya has been released to the evangelist’s family.
According to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) the UK women being probed include midwives and nurses, belong to Gilbert Deya Ministries
The council said the women could face professional misconduct charges.
Self-styled archbishop Gilbert Deya claims infertile women he has prayed over have gone on to give birth.
Some of the women were alleged to have given birth four times in a year.
But none of the “miracle babies” has DNA matching their “parents”.