A US-based Kenyan family has received an outpouring of support after losing three children in a road accident along the Naivasha Highway in Kenya.
A GoFundMe fundraiser set up to cover medical, funeral and travel costs had raised $66,392 (Sh8.6 million) of its $70,000 (Sh9 million) target from over 870 donors as of 11:05am on January 22, 2026.
The children , Emmanuel (13), Kairu (6), and Njeri (16) died following the January 4 crash while visiting Kenya with their parents, Leah and Christopher DeLeon, who remain in the country to make funeral arrangements.
The tragedy shocked communities in Kenya and Waterloo, Iowa, where the children were students. Emmanuel attended Hoover Middle School, Kairu was in early primary school, and Njeri was a junior at West High School and a member of the school’s cheerleading team.
The fundraiser, started by family friend Lyndie Maina, highlights urgent needs including funeral expenses, medical costs and travel for family members. Kenyan and American community groups have amplified the appeal, with many donors sharing messages of sympathy and support.
A memorial service will be held at the International Christian Centre, Nairobi, on Friday, January 23, followed by a funeral service at Kariokor Crematorium on Saturday, January 24.
