Police investigating a Kenyan cult suspected of practising starvation to “meet Jesus” have exhumed over 400 bodies, a senior official has said.

It comes after 12 more bodies were discovered on Monday, coastal regional commissioner Rhoda Onyancha told AFP.

“Total death toll – 403,” he said. “Exhumation continues tomorrow.”

Pastor Paul Mackenzie is accused of ordering his followers at the Good News International Church to starve to death. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Investigators are searching for more graves in Shakahola forest in eastern Kenya, where the first victims were discovered on 13 April.

Some were dead, while others were alive but weakened and emaciated.

Starvation appears to have been the main cause of death, according to government autopsies, but some victims – including children – had been strangled, beaten or suffocated.

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Mackenzie has been in police custody since April. His detention was extended by a month pending investigations on 3 July.

State prosecutors have said he is facing terrorism or genocide-related charges. He has not yet been required to enter a plea.

Followers charged with attempted suicide

Police investigated Mackenzie’s property in April after they received a tip dozens of people were starving to death after their pastor allegedly told them it was a way to go to heaven.

The emaciated followers were treated at a hospital before they were taken to a shelter.

They later staged a hunger strike to protest being held at the shelter and have been charged with attempted suicide – a move condemned by rights groups.

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