Hallelujah Languages app launched as Hymn books go digital

The application, which has five vernacular languages, English and Swahili, has hymns from 12 denominations.

The 12 are Full Gospel Church, African Inland Churches (AIC), Catholic, Anglican, Baptist, Coptic Orthodox, Friends Church Quakers, Lutheran, Methodist, Pentecostal Churches of East Africa (PCEA), Salvation Army and Seventh Day Adventists (SDA).

Luhya, Kikuyu, Kisii, Kamba and Luo are the vernacular languages incorporated into the application.

The idea behind the app is to allow Kenyans "praise and worship" at their convenience having the hymns on their smartphones, according to Chief Executive officer of Hallelujah Languages Ltd Kenneth Kaniu.

"The app digitizes Christian hymns from up to 12 main denominations and allows people to access the songs from wherever at their convenience at any time of the day," said Kaniu speaking during the launch of the book at All Saints Cathedral Church in Nairobi on Saturday.

Kaniu added that they plan on adding more denominations and languages to the application to reach out to a wider audience "because basically it’s about evangelization and trying to ensure that every Kenyan be it male, female, old or young, rural or urban are able to access these hymns."

He however added that access to all denominations will come at a cost.

Believers will pay Ksh5 per day, Ksh30 for a month, Ksh90 for three months, Ksh150 for six months and Ksh270 for an annual subscription.

"We feel the cost is affordable for everyone and the idea is to ensure that people are able to get the songs at their convenience in the most cost-effective manner," added Kaniu.

Users can now download the app on Google Play Store for android phones and App Store for Apple phones.