Twenty-one bodies have so far been found in a forest in eastern Kenyain the context of an investigation into the death of sectarians.

Last week he had the sect leader was arrestedwho reportedly urged believers to fast unto death to “meet Jesus.”

As of Friday, when the exhumation began, “we have a total of 21 bodies” in the Sakahola forest, a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity. “We’ve only scratched the surface, which suggests we’ll have more dead people” when the search is complete, he added.

Another police source confirmed this number.

One of the two sources said the victims include at least three children.

The bodies of four members of the International Church of the Good News, headed by Paul Mackenzie Dhenge, were already found last week. Officers searched the area as there was information about the existence of one mass grave in the forest.

Eleven other believers, seven men and four women, aged from17 to 49 years oldwere taken to hospitals last week after being rescued from the Sakahola forest.

Mackenzie Dhenge surrendered on April 15 to the police and was taken into custody.

According to Agence France-Presse, police said they received information that “people were starved to death under the pretense of meeting Jesus, after being brainwashed by a suspect, Mackenzie Dhenge, pastor of the International Church of Joyful News.”

According to local media, the pastor was arrested last month and prosecuted after two children starved to death while in their parents’ care.

Mackenzie Dhenge was subsequently released on bail of 100,000 Kenyan shillings (an amount equivalent to approximately 670 euros). Six believers have also been arrested.

The case will be heard by a local court on May 2.