NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — The death toll linked to a doomsday cult in Kenya rose to 201 on Saturday after police exhumed 22 more bodies, most of which showed signs of starvation, according to the Coastal Region Commissioner.
The bodies are believed to be supporters of pastor Paul Mackenzie, who lives on the Kenyan coast. He is said to have commanded believers to starve to meet Jesus.
More than 600 people are still missing.
Mackenzie, who was arrested last month, remains in custody. Police plan to charge him with terrorism-related offences.
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Hundreds of bodies were dug up from dozens of mass graves scattered across his 800-acre property in the coastal district of Kilifi.
Mackenzie insists he closed his church in 2019 and moved to his property in a wooded area to farm.
Autopsies performed on more than 100 bodies last week revealed the victims died of starvation, strangulation, asphyxiation and blunt object injuries.
Local media reported cases of missing internal body organs, citing investigators.
Mackenzie, his wife and 16 other suspects will appear in court later this month.
Coastal Region Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said Saturday the total number of those arrested was 26, with 610 people reported missing by their families.
It’s unclear how many survivors have been rescued so far in the search and rescue operations at Mackenzie’s vast property. Some of them were too weak to walk when they were found.
Cults are widespread in Kenya, where there is a religious society.
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Police across the country have questioned other religious leaders whose teachings are believed to be misleading and contrary to basic human rights.
President William Ruto last week set up a commission of inquiry to investigate how hundreds of people were lured to their deaths on the coast and to recommend action against institutions that failed to act.
Mackenzie had previously been charged with the deaths of children at his church in a case pending in court. Nearby residents had sounded the alarm after his supporters moved into the wooded area.
