Kenya has been rocked by the discovery of 73 bodies of people who starved themselves to death close to the coastal town of Malindi.
As investigators uncovered fresh bodies from mass graves in a woodland close to the shore on Monday, police sources reported that the death toll in a case involving a Kenyan cult that practiced starvation had increased to 73.
William Ruto, the president of Kenya, has threatened to take tough measures against "unacceptable" religious practices.
A thorough investigation has been launched into the Good News International Church and its founder, Paul Mackenzie Nthenge after it was claimed that he taught that starving would lead believers to God.
The suspect, Makenzie Nthenge, was already identified by the police.
The police stormed Shakahola earlier this month after receiving a tip from a nearby non-profit organization, and it is thought that some of his followers may still be hidden in the nearby bush.
Since then, a number of people have been found, and dozens of bodies have been excavated from mass graves that were dug in shallow ground.
According to a police officer, "We have recovered 73 bodies from the forest by this evening, and the exercise will continue tomorrow."
Because we discovered six remains crammed into one grave today, he said, "It is a very sad state of affairs how these people died and were buried in shallow graves."
The death toll was confirmed by a second official, who also noted that some of the victims were still in the forest and had not even been buried.
According to police commander Japhet Koome, who visited the scene on Monday, the count had previously been at 58.
Teams are searching for further burials and possible cult survivors in a 325-hectare (800-acre) region that has been designated a crime scene.
Speaking in the nearby Kiambu county of Nairobi, a native Ruto claimed that there was "no difference" between terrorists and errant pastors like Nthenge.
The use of religion by terrorists to justify their horrible crimes People like Mackenzie are doing the same thing by utilizing religion.
As investigators uncovered fresh bodies from mass graves in a woodland close to the shore on Monday, police sources reported that the death toll in a case involving a Kenyan cult that practiced starvation had increased to 73.
William Ruto, the president of Kenya, has threatened to take tough measures against "unacceptable" religious practices.
A thorough investigation has been launched into the Good News International Church and its founder, Paul Mackenzie Nthenge after it was claimed that he taught that starving would lead believers to God.
The suspect, Makenzie Nthenge, was already identified by the police.
The police stormed Shakahola earlier this month after receiving a tip from a nearby non-profit organization, and it is thought that some of his followers may still be hidden in the nearby bush.
Since then, a number of people have been found, and dozens of bodies have been excavated from mass graves that were dug in shallow ground.
According to a police officer, "We have recovered 73 bodies from the forest by this evening, and the exercise will continue tomorrow."
Because we discovered six remains crammed into one grave today, he said, "It is a very sad state of affairs how these people died and were buried in shallow graves."
The death toll was confirmed by a second official, who also noted that some of the victims were still in the forest and had not even been buried.
According to police commander Japhet Koome, who visited the scene on Monday, the count had previously been at 58.
Teams are searching for further burials and possible cult survivors in a 325-hectare (800-acre) region that has been designated a crime scene.
Speaking in the nearby Kiambu county of Nairobi, a native Ruto claimed that there was "no difference" between terrorists and errant pastors like Nthenge.
The use of religion by terrorists to justify their horrible crimes People like Mackenzie are doing the same thing by utilizing religion.