How Nairobi traffic jam helped me tick off my 2025 reading list

Wearing earphones or books stuffed into their work or college bags, they are using the long waits on matatus queues and hours stuck in gridlocks to finish their books or podcasts.
Joy Thuku is one of them.

“I realised I was spending nearly two hours in traffic. That added up to about 500 hours annually, essentially a whole university semester. That revelation hit me hard. The next day, I carried a book,” she says.

Two years later, she has finished 15 books on the road and watched so many videos from channels such as “Engage Talk” on YouTube, which she says have sharpened her public speaking, in addition to podcasts such as “Africa Tech Radio” and “The Sandwitch.”

“The success stories I consume daily keep me motivated even in Nairobi's worst jams,” she tells BDLife.

Where most get frustrated, clicking and getting anxious, Joy says she sees “protected time” that does not compete with watching Netflix, doing house chores or office work, or being with family.
“Traffic jams, in their own way, have been a blessing in disguise,” she adds.

Henry Mwangangi, a voice-over artist, is another one. His book-reading habit in matatus started as a way to block out the blasting music. He shifted to quieter rides on Super Metro buses. Here, he found a silent space to listen to podcasts and audiobooks.

“I hate loud buses, so the quiet Super Metros plus long waits in traffic pushed me to start listening to podcasts. That, and the fact that almost every great book is now an audiobook.” Henry estimates that he gets five hours each week to read, which he would otherwise lose.

His playlist is stacked with practical content. Spotify and YouTube are his go-to platforms. He says “The Financially Incorrect” podcast is a regular companion while in traffic, as are Business Daily articles.

“Reading has changed how I manage my money, how I think about investments, and how I plan my side hustles,” he says. But there is a cost to this habit.

Henry says he has to set aside Sh100 a day for data bundles, almost the same amount as one-way fare to the city, since he is away from both his home and office Wi-Fi, which totals about Sh2,000 a month.

“The affordable bundles don’t last long as they should,” he laments. Still, he insists it is worth it. “If I had to put a value on the skills I’ve gained in traffic, I’d estimate about $5,000 (about Sh650,000 in current conversion rates)."

“If traffic jams disappeared tomorrow, I’d probably default to shorter, less educative habits,” he says.

Emily Kithae, too, began by refusing to let her 30-45 minutes of commuting time slip away unnoticed. “It felt like too much time to waste,” she says.

She started carrying books, eventually building a rhythm that now gives her between five and seven hours of reading in a week. The habit has made her consistent.

“By the time I get home, my reading for the day is already done. Evenings are free for rest," she says. But she has had to navigate small challenges, from loud matatus to curious stares when reading a physical book, which add to the occasional distractions.

“Sometimes matatus blast music so loudly you can’t focus,” she says. “And when I used to carry physical books, people stared as if I was showing off. But you learn to block it out.”
But the payoff outweighs it.

“The ideas, perspectives, and discipline I’ve built are things I’d otherwise have had to pay for in training or courses," she says.
Asked what would happen if Nairobi traffic vanished, her mind is clear. “I’d still keep the habit, maybe early mornings or before bed. At this point, it’s the discipline I’ve built, not just a way to pass time.”

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