Detectives Monday, June 12 exhumed 10 more bodies from mass graves in Shakahola Forest, Kilifi County, on land linked to cult leader Paul Mackenzie.
This raised the death toll to 284 people who perished from activities of the deadly cult.
Mackenzie is being investigated for crimes including aiding suicide, after allegedly convincing members of his Good News International Church to starve themselves to death in order to meet Jesus.
The cult leader and tens of suspects have been arrested amid investigations and a court case to establish what happened in Shakahola.
Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha said 19 bodies have been identified, 95 people rescued, 65 arrested and 613 reported missing.
Currently, the Kenya Defense Forces were on the ground opening up access roads within the 840-acre land so as to make the forest accessible.
The area has been cordoned off and declared a disturbed.
Meanwhile, 65 people rescued from the Shakahola Forest in Kilifi County while on a deadly fast have been turned into suspects.
The victims who are said to be staunch followers of Paul Mackenzie of Good News International Church in Kiliff will now be charged with the offense of attempted suicide contrary to Section 226 as read with Section 36 of the Penal Code.
According to a charge sheet prepared by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution, the suspects attempted to kill themselves by absconding meals while in a rescue center.
The suspects are alleged to have absconded meals at the Sajahanadi
Rescue Centre in Kilifi between June 6 and 10 by staging a hunger strike.
They were presented before Shanzu law courts.
The entire Chakama ranch remains a security area and scene of the crime with limited access for all persons who are unauthorized.
Dozens more bodies are believed to be buried in shallow graves therein.
Mackenzie, who is in police custody, is being investigated for influencing his followers to starve to death in order to meet their maker.
Police also suspect that some of the victims did not starve to death and may have been killed and then buried on the property.
He has denied wrongdoing but has been refused bail.
He insists that he shut down his church in 2019.
The followers say he told them to starve themselves in order to “meet Jesus”.
