Sh8.6m raised for US-based Kenyan family after tragic loss of 3 children

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.