18 more bodies exhumed at Shakahola village in Kilifi cult probe

Three shallow graves containing six bodies were the first to be found; one grave contained three bodies, while the other two contained two, and the third contained one.

Detectives exhumed a total of 10 graves on Sunday, bringing the three-day total of exhumations to 39.

Detectives are probing a growing mystery involving a religious cult whose pastor, Makenzie Nthenge, allegedly instructed members to starve themselves in order to "meet Jesus."

Nthenge, the head of the Good News International Church, surrendered to authorities and was charged last month after two kids died of starvation while in their parents' care, according to local media.

He was initially freed on a 10,000 shilling bail.

However, on April 15, police arrested Nthenge after discovering the bodies of four followers whom he allegedly told to starve themselves in order to "meet Jesus."

Eleven other followers of the church -- seven men and four women aged 17 to 49 -- were taken to hospital, three of them in critical condition, after being rescued on April 14.