Kenya church congregants ‘starvation’ cult death toll rises to 90

90 dead bodies of church members have been recovered by Kenyan police from mass graves in a forest in eastern Kenya.

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Death toll rises, survivors found

It is believed to be linked to a cult that allegedly encouraged its followers to starve themselves to gain salvation, the country’s government said.

According to CNN, Kithure Kindiki, the Kenyan interior minister, said three people were found alive and rescued on Tuesday.

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A total number of 34 people have been rescued since the graves were discovered last Friday.

The bodies are of members of the Good News International Church, which allegedly taught its members that they would go to heaven if they starved themselves.

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Church congregants starve themselves to death

Kenyan police have exhumed a total of 90 bodies so far, near the coastal town of Malindi, as they investigate a preacher said to have told church congregants to starve themselves to death.

Amongst the discovered bodies, children bodies were also found. Police said the process of removing the bodies is still ongoing.

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The shallow graves are in a place called Shakahola forest, where 15 members of the Good News International Church were rescued a week ago.

The church leader, Paul Makenzie Nthenge is in custody, pending a court appearance.

Makenzie is described as a “cult leader”, and it was reported that 58 graves have so far been identified in the investigation process.

One of the graves is believed to contain the bodies of five members of the same family – three children and their parents.

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