MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Family raising money to bring father home to Kenya after his body was pulled from Green Lake

Apr 6, 2026, 6:07 AM

green lake kenya family body...

(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)

(Photo courtesy of KIRO 7)

A family is asking for help bringing their brother, father, and friend home.

Nahashon Kamau Wanyoike’s body was found in Green Lake last week, after his family said he had been missing for around two weeks.

The investigation into his death is still underway, as his family awaits an autopsy report. KIRO 7 reached out to Seattle police for details, and is still waiting for a response.



Loved ones of Wanyoike, known to many as “Kamaa,” are now raising money to bring his body home to Kenya.

“He was very loved,” Malika Simon, Kamaa’s sister, said.

“He was honestly one of the funniest people I ever met,” Mary Ndugo, his sister-in-law, said.

Friends described him as “generous” and a “hard worker,” who worked with people with disabilities.

“Always reaching out to other people,” Peter Kithene, a family friend, said. “Taking care of people.”

Loved ones describe a painstaking two weeks searching for him, before they were notified his body was found in Green Lake.

They still have more questions than answers, but are concerned mental health might have played a part.

“He was another beautiful human being whose life has just been taken away in circumstances that we still are struggling to understand,” Kithene said.

Simon said she hopes others struggling, especially men, consider speaking more openly about what they’re going through.

“As a family, we were there for him,” she said. “We wanted to help him, but we didn’t know. We didn’t know what he was going through.”

The family is raising money to bring his body back to Kenya as he would have wanted.



“It’s really where he wanted to be,” Ndugo said. “[As] immigrants, this is not our home, so I know he really wanted to be home.”

They’re grateful for the support they have already received.

“Above all, we’re just grateful for the time we were able to have with him,” Ndugo said. “And thank you to everyone for the continued support. We’re grateful.”

You can donate to support the family on their GoFundMe here.

If you or a loved one is struggling, help is available 24/7. You can call or text 988 to be put in contact with a crisis counselor.

Please follow our Community Guidelines

MyNorthwest News

The Modrite Fire, in northeast Washington state, has grown to more than 9,000 acres. (Photo Courtes...

Tom Brock

Washington state wildfires growing in size, forcing evacuations

Dry conditions across the state have prompted Red Flag Watches and Warnings, as a series of wildfires continues to grow across Washington.

2 hours ago

A Kent Police Department vehicle (Photo courtesy of Kent Police Department)...

Tom Brock

Dispute at a family graduation celebration ends with deadly shooting

One man is dead, and another is in police custody after a family celebration in Kent ended with a shooting. Police arrested a 40-year-old suspect at a family graduation celebration after a 41-year-old man was shot multiple times. It happened at a home in the 900 block of E. Cherry Hill St., a half mile […]

3 hours ago

Jimothy (1) seattle raccoon ballard...

Luke Duecy

The Spin: Jimothy goes viral as brands jump in — how corporate ‘newsjacking’ turns attention into marketing

Jimothy the raccoon has become one of the internet's biggest viral stars, and now major brands are racing to join the conversation.

9 hours ago

Longview fire air quality...

Frank Lenzi

Massive scrap pile fire in Longview triggers air quality warning; residents urged to stay indoors

A large scrap pile fire at PNW Metals in Longview sent a massive plume of smoke into the sky Saturday, prompting fire officials to issue an air quality warning urging nearby residents to stay indoors. The Longview Fire Department and Cowlitz 2 Fire & Rescue were on scene as of Saturday afternoon and anticipated remaining […]

23 hours ago

world cup hotel bookings...

Tom Brock

Unauthorized parachutists caught on video jumping from Space Needle

Tourists at Seattle's Space Needle got a little more than the view they expected Friday, when two men parachuted off the iconic structure's Observation Deck.

1 day ago

courthouse escapee snohomish county...

KIRO 7 News Staff

Deputies looking for Snohomish County courthouse escapee

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a 39-year-old who escaped the courthouse Friday afternoon when a judge told him he would be taken into custody.

1 day ago

Family raising money to bring father home to Kenya after his body was pulled from Green Lake