Kenyans in the diaspora and the homeland, as well as friends and family, are today holding a memorial service for the three US-based siblings who died in a freak road accident while on holiday in  Naivasha, Kenya.

The family, who reside in Waterloo, Iowa, was visiting Kenya for the holidays when their vehicle was involved in a serious accident along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.

The three children are the sons and daughter of Wangui Ndirangu, formerly of New Jersey and now residing in Iowa.

The deaths have sent shockwaves through both the Kenyan and American communities connected to the family.

The parents, who survived the crash and were not seriously injured, remained in Kenya to make funeral arrangements with meetings ongoing at the International Christian Church Centre, Nairobi, on Mombasa Road from 5pm to 7pm daily.

In Waterloo, classmates and teachers remembered Emmanuel as a cheerful eighth-grader at Hoover Middle School, while Kairu was described as a joyful six-year-old first-grader at Royal Legacy Christian Academy.

Njeri, a junior at Waterloo’s West High School and a member of the cheerleading team, was remembered by former teachers as “sweet, caring, and kindhearted,” with a smile that brightened any room.

Soon after the news of the deaths spread online, a GoFundMe page, titled “Support for Leah, Christopher and DeLeon Family,” was started by family friend Lyndie Maina.

“Please consider donating to their family, and if you’re unable to, please help by sharing this link,” said Hoover Middle School, where two of the siblings attended school.

“Every donation, no matter how small, makes a difference. If you cannot donate, please share this link with your networks,” said Maina.

The account, set up to help cover medical, funeral, and travel costs, has so far raised approximately Ksh.8.6 million ($66,392) from more than 870 donations.

A memorial service for all three children is currently being held at the International Christian Centre, Nairobi, to be followed by a funeral service at Kariokor Crematorium on Saturday, January 24, starting at 7 a.m.

As family, friends and wellwishers gathered to pay their final respects to the departed three, a eulogy beautifully captured the heartwarming moments the three children shared on Earth, with their parents, friends and relatives showering them with last-minute adoration and affection, describing each child’s unique beauty, personality and talents in painful detail.

Emmanuel DeLeon was a 13-year-old eighth grader at Hoover Middle School in Waterloo. Known for his cheerful personality, he left a strong impression on classmates and teachers alike.

“Emmanuel always had a positive attitude and brightened everyone’s day,” said Amanda Anderson-Murty.

Another family friend, Ciara Oder, recalled his infectious joy, saying he was “always happy and full of laughter.”

His younger brother, Kairu Winkelpleck, was six years old and a first-grade pupil at Royal Legacy Christian Academy.

Friends and relatives described him as energetic and deeply loved by those around him.

Their elder sister, Njeri DeLeon, was a 16-year-old junior at West High School. She had recently joined the school’s cheerleading team and made her debut in August 2025 at the UNI-Dome.

Though initially nervous, she quickly embraced the sport and earned admiration from her teammates for her commitment and enthusiasm.

A former teacher, Glenda Griffin, described Njeri as “sweet, caring, and kindhearted,” adding that she had “the most beautiful smile”.