Death toll from Kenya cult rises to 133 as more bodies exhumed

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Police in Kenya unearthed 21 more bodies Tuesday from property belonging to cult leader Paul Mackenzie, bringing the death toll to 133.

Hundreds of people who died from the starvation cult in the coastal town of Malindi in Kilifi County are believed to have been buried in the Shakahola forest.

Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha, who announced the latest death toll to the media Tuesday, also revealed that 566 people have gone missing in the area and some who were members of the church are suspected to have been buried at the site.

"We have 21 bodies exhumed today from nine graves, and this exercise will continue tomorrow. The latest exhumations took the overall toll to 133," she said.

The exhumation had been halted due to bad weather but resumed after several days.

A police investigation which started in mid-April has so far also revealed that some of the victims had their organs missing, which has led to suspicions of trafficking in human organs.

Interior Minister Kithure Kindiki described the Shakahola cult deaths as a highly organized crime, saying the mass graves were too many.