Yawheh by Esther Wahome is widely considered the highest selling Kenyan album of all time, having sold over a million copies.
The 12-song album spawned the hit single Kuna Dawa, one of the first gospel songs to cross over to the mainstream and garner heavy rotation everywhere from churches, airwaves to nightclubs.
The album was released in early 2004 and saw Ms Wahome win Best Female Artist and Song of The Year for Kuna Dawa at the Groove Awards.
However, thanks to the River Road distribution system that was partly responsible for the record's success, it became near impossible to certify the numbers.
It is also believed that pirates who sold their own copies of the album outsold Wahome.
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The popularity of Kuna Dawa also saw her land a deal to promote the non-alcoholic drink Malta Guinness.
Her decision to work with a company known for its alcoholic drinks, however, put her at the centre of a battle with churches and a section of fans who criticized her.
She later stated that she had no regrets, noting: "I’m proud that I did this because it opened doors for other gospel artistes to get endorsement deals. Besides, this was not the first time I was being put on the spotlight. My dress code was also under scrutiny."
Wahome paved the way for gospel artists to dominate the local music scene as much as their secular counterparts.
[caption caption="The album cover for Esther Wahome's Yawheh album"]
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A vibrant gospel scene has thrived over the years with artists such as Daddy Owen, Juliani, Kambua, Emmy Kosgei and many more making their mark.
Currently, artists such as Willy Paul and Bahati have managed to bridge the gap between secular and gospel with their music having mainstream appeal.
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