73 CHURCH MEMBERS DIED AFTER A PASTOR TOLD THEM TO STARVE TO DEATH TO MEET JESUS CHRIST. (PHOTOS).

Kenyan police say the death toll from the starvation cult has now risen to 73.

Japhet Koome, inspector-general of police (IGP) in Kenya, had earlier pegged the casualties at 58.

In bizarre developments, one pastor Paul Nthenge, founder of the Good News International Church, instructed his congregation to starve themselves to “meet Jesus”.

Followers of the church were reported to be living in several secluded settlements in an 800-acre area within the Shakahola forest.

In a statement on Monday, Koome said the bodies were exhumed from shallow graves in the disturbing scene, adding that 29 people had been rescued.

He said the investigation had so far indicated that Nthenge’s victims were subjected to extreme religious beliefs, characterized by fasting and starvation to death, as their unorthodox means to meet their maker.

Koome assured that “all those culpable shall face the law” and added that rescue missions were ongoing.

Charles Kamau, head detective in Malindi, Kilifi County, told Reuters, that “the death toll now stands at 73 people”.

According to the report, Kamau said three more persons had been arrested.

President William Ruto described Nthenge, the cult leader, as a terrible criminal under the guise of religion.

He said he had instructed relevant agencies to get to the root cause of what had happened and to tackle “people who want to use religion to advance weird, unacceptable ideology in the Republic of Kenya that is causing unnecessary loss of life”.

More photos below.