The death toll from the "Shakahola massacre" in a forest in southeastern Kenya, where a sect was meeting, has risen to 211 after the discovery of 10 new bodies.

Police believe that most of the bodies found near the coastal town of Malindi are those of followers of the cult led by Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, a former cab driver and self-proclaimed "pastor" of the Good News International Church he founded.

We have made four arrests and they are all men; they are in custody and they are helping the investigation team to move forward with the investigations," said the region's prefect, Rhoda Onyancha.

Authorities said 26 people have been arrested so far, including Paul Nthenge Mackenzie and a "gang of goons" who were responsible for checking that no followers broke the fast or escaped from the forest.

Paul Mackenzie had surrendered to the authorities on April 14, after the police discovered the first victims in the Shakahola forest. About 50 mass graves have been discovered since then.

Autopsies of the first bodies indicate that most of the victims died of starvation, presumably after following the preaching of Paul Nthenge Mackenzie. Some victims, however, including children, were strangled, beaten or suffocated, said the head of forensic operations, Johansen Oduor, recently.

The massacre has rekindled the debate over the regulation of religious worship in Kenya, a predominantly Christian country with 4,000 "churches," according to official figures. President William Ruto has set up a task force to "review the legal and regulatory framework governing religious organizations".