Kenyan police have unearthed 21 remains near the seaside town of Malindi as part of their investigation into a preacher who allegedly encouraged his followers to starve to death.
Exhumed remains included dead children, and police said they expected to discover more.
The shallow graves are located in Shakahola woodland, where 15 members of the Good News International Church were rescued only a few weeks ago.
Pastor Paul Mackenzie Nthenge is being held in jail until his court appearance.
He was labeled as a “cult leader” by state radio KBC, and 58 graves have so far been located.
Mr Mackenzie has denied any involvement, but bail has been rejected. He insists that he closed his church in 2019.
He reportedly instructed followers to fast in order to “meet Jesus.”
Pathologists will gather DNA samples and run tests to establish if the individuals died of malnutrition, according to the Kenyan newspaper The Standard.
On April 15, police detained Mr Mackenzie after finding the remains of four persons accused of starving themselves to death.
“When we are in this forest and come to an area where we see a big and tall cross, we know that means more than five people are buried there,” Victor Kaudo of the Malindi Social Justice Centre told Citizen TV.
According to The Standard, the preacher named three communities Nazareth, Bethlehem, and Judea and baptized followers in ponds before urging them to fast.
Kenya is a devout nation, and many have been persuaded into hazardous, unregulated churches or cults in the past.
