Death toll at 179 in Kenya’s starvation cult

NAIROBI, Kenya

Police in Kenya announced Friday that the death toll in the Shakahola cult case had reached 179.

Bodies were exhumed from 12 graves on land owned by the church leader pastor Paul Mackenzie.

Coast Regional Commissioner Rhoda Onyancha noted in a news conference that residents had come to register their relatives as missing. A total of 609 people have so far been reported missing.

More bodies are still to be exhumed Saturday in the vicinity of the cult's stronghold in Malindi.

The meticulous process has shed light on the horrific extent of the tragedy that unfolded where officials believe that victims were encouraged to stave themselves in order to meet Jesus.

Efforts to uncover the truth behind the cult's activities and the circumstances surrounding the deaths remain ongoing.

The exhumations had been halted due to bad weather earlier this week but resumed after several days.

An investigation that started last month has 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 deaths as a highly organized crime, saying the mass graves were many.