In the Shakahola forest in eastern Kenya, at least 14 mass graves have been discovered since Friday, Reuters reports. During Tuesday, the death toll rose to 89.
During Monday, 112 people in the area were reported missing, according to the Kenya Red Cross. Already on Tuesday afternoon, the number had been raised to 259 people, of which 130 of them are children, reports CNN.
So far, 34 people have been found alive. Hussein Khalid, who is involved in the relief work, tells the BBC that many of the survivors still refuse to eat.
– When we tried to give her first aid to give her sips of water with glucose with a spoon, she completely refused. She closed her mouth and she signaled that she does not want help, he says of a woman in her 20s who was found in the sect’s area.
Cult leader arrested
The leader of the sect, Good News International Church, is called Paul Mackenzie Nthenge. According to information to AFP, he is the one who manipulated the members of the Christian sect that starvation would lead to salvation.
Nthenge has been arrested and the case will be tried in court on the second of May.
Kenya has previously had problems with unregulated churches and sects. Authorities have promised that this case will be the starting point for increased supervision of extreme religious groups and movements.
See clips from the scene in the video.
