Twelve more bodies have been discovered from the Shakahola Forest in Kenya’s Kilifi region, bringing the starvation cult death toll to 403.
The bodies were retrieved from five graves on Monday, with authorities saying at least 30 more graves are yet to be dug up as the search continues.
The bodies are thought to be those of followers of a Christian cult that believes its members will go to heaven if they starve themselves, according to authorities.
The followers of Good News International Church have been living in secluded settlements in a 324-hectare area within the Shakahola Forest.
They were allegedly instructed by their leader, Pastor Paul Mackenzie Nthenge, to retreat to the forest and starve to death to facilitate their ascension to heaven, where they would meet Jesus Christ.
News of the starvation cult broke out in March, leading to Nthenge’s arrest on April 14 after the discovery of four people believed to have starved themselves to death. He has been in custody since then.
Coast regional commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said investigations are ongoing into the starvation cult, even as Nthenge remains in jail.
Kenyan authorities say they will charge him and his accomplices with mass murder and torture. At least 30 other people are in custody over the starvation cult deaths.
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