Kenya police exhume 21 bodies, including 3 children, during investigation into religious cult

Police sources said the cult followers are believed to have starved themselves to death. At least three children were among the victims, a source said

Seven deaths were earlier reported in connection with the arrest of Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor who reportedly told followers to starve themselves to ‘meet Jesus’

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Forensic experts and police carry the bodies of suspected members of a cult after their remains were exhumed from their graves in Shakahola forest, Kilifi county, Kenya on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:40am, 23 Apr 2023Updated: 4:47am, 23 Apr 2023

Twenty-one bodies have been exhumed in Kenya while investigating a cult whose followers are believed to have starved themselves to death, police sources said on Saturday, warning the toll could rise.

Officials had earlier reported seven deaths in eastern Kenya in connection with the arrest of Makenzie Nthenge, a pastor who reportedly told followers to starve themselves to “meet Jesus”.

“In total since yesterday, we have 21 bodies,” a police source told Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity, referring to exhumations in the Shakahola forest outside the coastal town of Malindi.

“We have not even scratched the surface which gives a clear indication that we are likely to get more bodies by the end of this exercise,” the source added.

Kenya police officers stand guard as forensic experts and police exhume bodies of suspected members of a Christian cult in Shakahola forest, Kilifi county, Kenya on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Another police source confirmed the same toll, also on condition of anonymity.