Tragic loss for Iowa family as three Kenyan-American children die in Kenya road crash

A Waterloo, Iowa family is grappling with unimaginable grief following the tragic loss of three of their children in a road accident while on holiday in Kenya.

The fatal crash occurred on January 4, 2026, along the Naivasha-Nairobi highway, turning what was meant to be a joyful family vacation into a devastating tragedy.

The children — Emmanuel DeLeon, 13, Kairu Winkelpleck, 6, and Njeri DeLeon, 16 — were the children of Wangui Ndirangu, formerly of New Jersey and now residing in Iowa.

They were also the beloved niece and nephews of Wamuyu Ndirangu, Njeri Wacira, and Kairu Nyori Ndirangu, and grandchildren of the late Charity Ndirangu, formerly of New Jersey.

According to family accounts, Emmanuel and Kairu died at the scene of the accident. Their elder sister, Njeri, sustained critical injuries and was admitted to a Nairobi hospital, where she was placed in a medically induced coma.

After days of fighting for her life, she sadly passed away on Friday Jan 16 evening.

Emmanuel was an eighth-grade student at Hoover Middle School, remembered for his infectious laughter and cheerful spirit.

Kairu was a first-grader at Royal Legacy Christian Academy, described as playful and full of joy. Njeri, a junior at West High School, was known for her kindness, warmth, and bright smile.

Njeri had recently embarked on her cheerleading journey at West High School, making her debut at the UNI-Dome in August 2025.

Though initially nervous, she quickly embraced the sport with enthusiasm and dedication, earning admiration from teammates and friends alike.

Tributes have poured in from teachers, classmates, and community members mourning the loss.

Ciara Oder remembered Emmanuel’s joyful personality, saying, “He was always happy and full of laughter. I’ll never forget the day he tried to take my Starbucks cup — it brought smiles to everyone.”

Another tribute described Emmanuel as a child whose positive attitude brightened every room he entered, while others expressed deep sympathy for the family’s pain and loss.

The children’s parents were not seriously injured in the crash.

The family has remained in Kenya as they make funeral arrangements.

A memorial service for the three siblings will be held in Nairobi on Friday January 23, 2026.

This will be followed by a funeral service at Kariokor Crematorium on Saturday, January 24, at 7 a.m.

As both the Waterloo and Kenyan communities mourn together, messages of love, prayers, and support continue to surround the DeLeon family during this profoundly painful time.

Road accidents have been on the rise in Kenya amid efforts to address the menace.

Police statistics show some 294 people died in separate road accidents in the country between January 1 and January 21, 2026 which is an increase as compared to the last year’s incidents.

More than 600 people have been injured in the accidents and are nursing wounds in hospitals.

On Thursday morning, a car belonging to Buuri MP Mugambi Rindikiri was involved in road accident at Siraji Timau along Meru – Nanyuki Road. He and the occupants of both the car he was in and a matatu escaped with slight injuries, police said. He was rushing to attend a presidential event in Meru town. The injured were taken to hospitals in stable condition, police said.