Kenyan Immigrant Nurse Killed in Explosions at US Care Facility

A Kenyan nursing assistant was among two women killed after explosions tore through a nursing home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, on 23 December, leaving more than 20 people injured.

The explosions occurred at the Bristol Health & Rehab Center shortly after staff reported the smell of gas in the building. Utility workers from PECO were already on site when the first blast struck at about 2 pm, causing extensive damage and filling corridors with smoke and debris. 

Emergency crews evacuated residents and searched for those trapped as fires spread through parts of the facility. A second explosion later in the day worsened the damage to the former Silver Lake Nursing Home. By evening, officials confirmed that more than 20 residents and staff had been taken to nearby hospitals with serious injuries.

The victims were identified as a resident of the facility and 52-year-old Felistas Muthoni Nduthu, a Kenyan immigrant who worked as a nursing assistant. Nduthu was on her final shift before travelling to North Carolina to spend Christmas with her family.

Colleagues described Nduthu as a trusted and calming presence among residents. In Kenya, her family received news of her death on Christmas Eve. Her sister, Petronilla Wanjugu Nduthu, said the family was devastated by the loss, describing her as a good soul whose death had brought deep grief during the festive season.

Nduthu was a devout Catholic and a mother of three sons. Friends and relatives said she embodied resilience and sacrifice through her work and life as an immigrant healthcare worker. A GoFundMe campaign to repatriate her body and cover funeral costs had raised more than $12,000 by Saturday morning.

Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the cause of the explosions. Bucks County officials and the state fire marshal said all possible causes, including a gas leak, remain under investigation. Pennsylvania’s governor praised the actions of first responders and local residents for assisting those affected.

The Kenya Nurses Association of America called for accountability and raised concerns about workplace safety in care facilities. Its president, Dr Jeliah Akombe, said the organisation would work with Nduthu’s family to ensure responsibility is established.

Nduthu was also the sister of Karimi Nduthu, a Kenyan human rights activist who was tortured and killed in 1996 during the Moi administration. His role in Kenya’s pro-democracy movement made him a prominent figure in the country’s political history.