Police have exhumed 26 more bodies believed to be followers of controversial Good News International Church Pastor Paul Mackenzie.

The total number of bodies discovered in the shallow graves at Shakahola forest, which has been declared a crime scene, now stands at 73, with Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki set to visit the area on Tuesday.

Six people have been arrested, including a man suspected of being a co-mastermind and Mackenzie’s assistant pastor, and another eight have been rescued.

The Kenya Red Cross tracing desk reported 212 missing people (99 men and 113 women), but only two were found.

Earlier, Inspector General of Police Japheth Koome, who visited the scene, cleared police of any wrongdoing in Mackenzie’s arrest and release.

Responding to claims of police inaction, the police chief stated that Mackenzie had previously been arrested and later released by the courts.