Bethlehem College is opening its doors today as the tight knit Christian community deals with the deaths of three of its people in Kenya.

Doctor Brian and Grace Johnston and ex-Bethlehem College student Caitlin Dickson were killed when the mini-van they were in crashed into a ditch in wet weather on a Kenyan highway around 11pm on Tuesday.

Hundreds gathered at Bethlehem College today to pray for those lost in a crash in Kenya.

Principal Eoin Crosbie speaks to students at Bethlehem College today.

The three were part of a 19-strong contingent of 12 students and 7 adults from Bethlehem College who were on a volunteer trip to Kenya to help build classrooms and aid in the education of Kenyan children.

They departed Auckland on December 28 and were staying at the Ark Quest School near the Uganda border. They were due to fly home on Monday.

Others in the mini-van were also injured but none are reported to have serious injuries.

The news reached the local community from 1am Wednesday, and percolated through the community, becoming public domain by the afternoon.

Community gathers to pray

This morning hundreds of college students, friends and family members of those killed and injured in the crash gathered at Bethlehem College to pray.

The mood was uplifting as those affected tried to send out positive thoughts and ask God to guide them through these tough times.

"This tragedy will touch the lives of many in this community as these were all wonderful people who served others first as part of their expression of their Christian faith," said Principal Eoin Crosbie.

A public vigil has been set up at Bethlehem College where members of the public can go and pray. People can also make cards to send to the families affected.

Eoin also spoke of the roading conditions and details of the crash.

'The roads in Kenya are not what they are in New Zealand.”

The tragedy happened while the group travelling in a mini-van and car were returning to the village of Mahanga in Kenya's western province, about 400km north west of Nairobi, near the Ugandan border.

The mini-van lost control in wet weather and rolled into a ditch.

Eoin says Caitlin was alive at the scene but died before the ambulance could reach the crash. Grace and Brian were both taken to hospital but Grace died on the way and Brian died in hospital after surgery.

Caitlin Dickson and Brian and Grace Johnston were killed when the mini-van they were in crashed in Kenya.

Loved ones gather outside Bethlehem College today.

The driver, a Kenyan man involved with the mission, also died in the crash.

Bringing injured home

Others from the Bethlehem College group are injured and are in hospital in Kisumu. Six students, and two adults are all stable, as are a number of Kenyans also hurt in the crash.

Amongst those injured is 17-year-old Bethlehem College student Amy Bell.

Her grandfather Graham Preston says Amy is doing well.

'She was surrounded by injuries. When we spoke to her last night she was very coherent.”

Graham is the principal of Chapman College in Rotorua where another person injured in the crash – 25-year-old Gemma Tong – is a teacher.

Gemma is reported to have a broken arm in two or three places.

'She is badly shaken and suffered a badly broken arm. She had surgery last night to repair the arm at a private hospital which was close on hand.”

'We just want to know the facts. It is one of those things that you don't understand but handle it and do the best you can.”

Graham says the organiser of the trip Philip Russell is slightly injured and badly concussed.

With three senior leaders down the mission is planning to send two senior staff over to Kenya and hopes to have the students back in the country by Monday morning.

A travel agent is also on the way to ensure there are no hitches with those travelling back.

Graham is also one of the founding missionaries at Bethlehem and knows the Johnstons well having interviewed them as one of the first sets of parents to be involved in the Kenyan mission.

'They are a huge family. It is such a tragedy. Caitlin started in our pre-school, so I know her family as well.”

Tributes flow

Brian and Grace leave behind a family of 10 children, including two that attend Bethlehem College.

The Johnstons and Caitlin had all visited Kenya before and were passionate about the work there, part of the college's mission partnership programme, says Eoin.

Brian was an anaesthetist and had worked for the Bay of Plenty District Health Board for more than 26 years.

Today Health Minister and Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall sent his condolences to the Johnstons' family.

'Grace and Brian were active and well liked members of the Bay of Plenty community and they will be sorely missed.

'I pay tribute to Brian Johnston's long and dedicated service to Bay of Plenty health services - yesterday would have been his 26th anniversary at Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

'Brian was well liked and widely respected and he made a significant contribution at both Tauranga and Whakatane hospitals. His passing is a great loss.”

Mr Ryall also extends his sympathy to the family of Caitlin Dickson who lost her life in the Kenyan bus crash.

Embassy support

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) says the New Zealand High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, is providing assistance and support after the accident.

The Deputy High Commissioner from the New Zealand High Commission in Pretoria has now arrived in Nairobi. The Consul from the New Zealand Embassy in Cairo is also due to arrive. From Nairobi, both will fly to Kisumu to provide on-going support and advice to the College group.

The repatriation process of the deceased is under way.

Bethlehem has been in partnership with Ark Quest for more than two years and has similar links with the Solomon Islands and Tonga.