YouVersion Bible app launches hub in Kenya

The star-studded event was held on Monday in Westlands, Nairobi, as the app projects that the launch will advance the use of digital platforms to enrich their Christian knowledge.

YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald said that Kenya has been a key contributor to the app's expansion, having over 19 million installs as of 2025.

“We’re here to develop what God is already doing in this country,” he said.

“Kenya holds a special place in this story for us. I remember the day we found out that Bible App Lite had become the number one app in the Kenya App Store. Above TikTok, above Facebook, above WhatsApp.”

Bible App Lite was designed for people who have limited phone storage and less consistent internet connectivity, to reach more people in less developed areas.

He added that statistics have shown that Kenya recorded over 39% of daily use from frequent users, and the momentum is swiftly rising in Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa.

"Right now, South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria rank among the top countries in the world for daily Bible engagement. Not in Africa. In the world," he said.

Kenya Hub leader Joseph Gachira said: “This Hub allows us to amplify African voices and ensure Scripture is experienced in ways that reflect our languages, cultures, and stories."

The app started as a website in 2007 and the company took advantage of the launch of Apple's App Store in 2008, becoming one of about two hundred free apps available at the time.

The Bible App is available in over 2,300 languages with more than 3,500 versions of the Bible. It crossed the 1 billion installations mark in 2025.