The three children who died in the Naivasha crash: From Left: Njeri DeLeon (16), Kairu Winkelpeck(6) and Emmanuel DeLeon(13)/FILE

A US-based Kenyan family reeling
from the sudden loss of three children in a road accident has received strong
support online, with their GoFundMe fundraiser closing in on its target.

The account, set up to help cover medical, funeral and travel
costs, has raised $66,392 (Sh8.6 million) of its $70,000 (Sh9 million) goal from more than 870 donations at
the latest count.

This is as at 11:05am, on January 22, 2026.

The fundraiser was launched in the wake of a tragic crash on
January 4, along the Naivasha Highway in Kenya, where siblings Emmanuel, 13,
Kairu, 6, and Njeri, 16, died while visiting with their parents.

Their deaths shocked communities in Kenya and the family’s hometown
of Waterloo, Iowa, where the DeLeon children were students.

The parents, identified on the fundraiser as Leah and
Christopher DeLeon, remain in Kenya to make funeral arrangements and support
their surviving relatives.

The GoFundMe page, titled Support for Leah, Christopher and DeLeon Family, was started by
family friend Lyndie Maina to help the family cope with sudden, steep expenses
associated with the tragedy.

In the days after the crash, community members and strangers
alike poured out support online.

Many expressed sympathy for the family’s loss and urged others
to give what they could.

The fundraising appeal specifically lists urgent needs including
medical care for any remaining hospital treatment, travel and accommodation for
family members in Kenya, and funeral costs for the three children.

While Emmanuel and Kairu died at the scene, Njeri was initially
reported to be in critical condition in hospital before also passing away days
later, according to family accounts and local reports.

Kenyan and American community groups have also amplified the
appeal.

In Waterloo, classmates and teachers remembered Emmanuel as a
cheerful eighth grader at Hoover Middle School, while friends described Kairu
as a joyful six-year-old.

Njeri, a junior at Waterloo’s West High School and a member of
her school’s cheerleading team, was remembered for her commitment and kind
spirit.

The tragedy has drawn attention on social media and among
diaspora networks, with many sharing the GoFundMe link to help the family reach
the target quickly.

Organisers emphasise that even small contributions and social
shares can make a difference in easing the financial burden on the grieving
parents.

Meetings
for funeral preparations are ongoing at the International Christian Church
Centre, Nairobi, on Mombasa Road from 5pm to 7pm daily.

A
memorial service for all three children will be held at the International
Christian Centre, Nairobi, on Friday, January 23, from 10.00 am. This will be
followed by a funeral service at Kariokor Crematorium on Saturday, January 24,
starting at 7 aM.

Friends and relatives in Kenya and the US have held vigils and
shared photos and memories of the three children.

With the fundraiser nearing its target, the family is one step
closer to securing the resources they urgently need.

As of now, the page reflects not just donations but also a tangible
measure of community solidarity in the face of profound loss, with many donors
expressing hope that the DeLeon family finds strength and support through the
difficult months ahead.

 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-the-deleons-christopher-family