Exhumations in the Shakahola forest are set to resume on Monday after a weekend break.
The death toll in the Pastor Paul Mackenzie cult rose to 274 on Friday after the exhumation of ten more bodies.
Since the commencement of the operation, the government has made 45 arrests and successfully rescued 95 victims associated with the Shakahola Starvation cult led by controversial televangelist Paul Mackenzie of the Good News International Church.
To aid in the identification of victims’ families, the government has collected a total of 93 DNA samples.
Currently, 19 families have been identified, while the number of individuals reported missing by their relatives stands at 613.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki made an announcement during his visit to the Shakahola Forest where he oversaw the third phase of exhumation exercise that investigation has uncovered evidence suggesting that controversial televangelist Paul Mackenzie may have extended his criminal activities beyond 800 acres.
The government further revealed plans to open security roads in every 100 acres of Chakama Ranch as part of a comprehensive effort to aid in systematic and scientific search and rescue operations for victims as well as identification of graves.
