Loved ones gather to pray

Friends and family of Grace and Dr Brian Johnston, and Caitlin Dickson, who were killed in a road accident in Kenya days before their return home will gather today to remember them.

The van carrying the Bethlehem College Christian volunteers rolled in heavy rain and ended up in a ditch on Tuesday night (NZ time).

Their Kenyan driver was also killed.

The trio were part of a group of seven adults and 12 students who had been building classrooms in the village of Ma'hanga since last month.

This morning friends of Miss Dickson, 19, former and current students gathered at Bethlehem College to pray.

At the vigil, led by a handful of friends of Caitlin and Mr and Mrs Johnston, the mood was sombre as words of love and praise were shared. The community reached out to God and asked him to guide them through this tough time.

"We were blessed to have known them and it's a blessing we have hope and that Caitlin, Brian, Grace and Chris [the Kenyan bus driver who also lost his life] are with us and with you in heaven," a student speaker said.

"We don't get it, we don't understand why but beauty will come out of the wreckage ... and we pray for your love and support".

The school has opened its doors to members of the public who wish to pay their respects.

A prayer service will be held tonight for Mr and Mrs Johnston.

The Johnstons leave behind 10 children aged from 14 to their early 30s. Brian Johnston was a long-serving anaesthetist with the Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

The couple attended Greerton Bible Church for more than 20 years, and their pastor John Elen said many of their congregation are numb from shock, Radio New Zealand reported.

"They had a real passion for serving the God they loved and the people which were entrusted to them. They were involved in so many things and that's why such a wide portion of the community actually know who they are,'' he told Radio New Zealand.

Bethlehem College principal Eoin Crosbie met last night met with parents, relatives and friends of the group.

About seven of the group in Kenya remained in hospital in Kisumu with injuries ranging from superficial to more serious, but none were life threatening, he told Radio New Zealand. A number of Kenyans were also hurt in the crash.

The three deaths were a devastating blow to the tight-knit Bay of Plenty community, he said.

"Brian and Grace were really well known and very committed to the Bethlehem College community ... and Caitlin was very committed to this work."

Similar trips are planned to Tonga and the Solomon Islands later this year.

The school would look at management of risk in other countries, but was committed to continuing the volunteer trips, Mr Crosbie said.

"The value of these trips is just immense and it's life-changing."

New Zealand's deputy high commissioner and consular staff are travelling to Kenya today to provide support and arrangements are being made to bring the group home.

Update: 11.45am:

Education Minister Hekia Parata has described the victims of the Kenyan bus crash as "wonderful people".

She said she had passed on her condolences to Bethlehem College chairman Greg Hollister-Jones and principal Eoin Crosbie.

"I have conveyed my condolences to Greg and Eoin this morning, extending to the school community and families during this time," says Ms Parata.

"These are wonderful people who were passionate about their work in providing care to a community that really needed their help.

"My deepest sympathy goes out to these special families grieving at this time. Ng mihi nui."