Reading Kenyan begins here: a new home for stories at Kibanga Books
“Today is a good day for Kenyan literature, for Kenyan stories, and for African books, said Brian Mokua, co-founder of Kibanga Books, at the launch of their new bookstore in Nairobi.
The event on 10 May served as a testament to determination and drive from young people willing to take a risk in the world of books.
The launch brought together book lovers, authors, and literary dreamers from across the city. In attendance was Martha Karua, a former Minister for Justice, long-standing Member of Parliament, and a presidential candidate in Kenya’s 2013 general election. Importantly, she is the author of Against The Tide, her autobiography.
Karua’s presence at the launch underscored a growing truth: literature and politics are deeply entangled with each other, and stories remain one of our most powerful tools for shaping national consciousness. Together with NaiRobbery Cocktail author Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki, author of Confessions of Nairobi Men and Women series Joan Thatiah, and the talented playwright John Sibi-Okumu, the crowd was treated to book signings and photo opportunities.
Money in the midst of a pandemic
Back in 2020, as a university student in Meru, Brian struggled to find a copy of Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. After a two-day search, he had a moment of clarity: Why not be the one to make books more accessible for others?
What started as a solo hustle — drop-shipping titles from a tiny bedsitter (even fulfilling orders in the bathroom for privacy) — quickly became a trusted name among Nairobi readers. “I was brokering books during COVID-19. That time was good to me. I made money, I read a lot. I kept asking myself, "Can I really be paid to read?”
He wasn’t just reading. He was building something.
Brian’s deep affection for African literature began with Born a Crime, but his discovery of Kenyan authors sparked something bigger.
“My first Kenyan bestseller was Things I Will Tell My Daughter by Joan Thatiah. People kept asking for it. I had to find her. Since then, Joan has been on my speed dial.”
He describes Thatiah’s stories as “real, touching, and so relatable”, especially to Nairobians. “She could drop me 300 books, and I’d sell them all in a month.” For Brian, Kenyan literature isn’t just content; it’s culture. “We can’t have outsiders telling our stories. And if we’re telling our stories, we need to read them. It starts here. At home.”
A Gen Z bookstore
Kibanga Books now has a physical home—but it’s not your typical bookstore. Brian is Gen Z, and he’s leaning into it.
“I want to read with young people. I want to grow Kibanga with them. So that when we’re all in our 40s, it still feels like home.” A lot has been said about Gen Z, and often, they are negative and demeaning comments. The most pervasive one yet is that they are lazy and too headstrong, making them impossible to work with. The team at Kibanga bookstore proves otherwise.
That spirit of hustle shows up in his delivery model, too. The store’s logo — a bicycle — is a nod to Nairobi’s fast-paced culture. “Nairobians are impatient,” he says with a laugh. “If someone wants a book in 30 minutes, we have to be ready.”
Brian’s Top Kenyan reads
Top on Brian’s reading list are several books: Confessions of Nairobi Women – Joan Thatiah
- Unplugged – Jacob Aliet
- NaiRobbery Cocktail – Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki
He’s also currently reading The Second Mountain — proof that the hunger to read never stops.
Cultural custodians
“Kenyan and African literature is on the rise. This is the time,” Brian says with quiet urgency. “Book clubs — you’ve got to read Kenyan. We need to make space for more voices to rise. And most importantly, choose Kibanga Books. Because reading Kenyan begins here.”
This warm vision sits within a much larger conversation about the role of bookstores in Kenya’s literary ecosystem. As more bookshops spring up, many of them small, independent, and digitally savvy, the hope is that African stories will not only become more visible, but more accessible too. Yet a stubborn reality remains: books are still expensive for most Kenyans. The dream of a reading nation can’t ignore the economics of publishing and distribution.
Still, bookstores like Kibanga offer an alternative to imported bestseller lists and one-dimensional narratives. They become more than just sellers of books — they are cultural custodians, curators of local voices, and channels through which Kenyan and African literature can truly be read, discussed, and loved. Kibanga Books is a sign of something stirring in Kenya’s literary soil—something young, urgent, and deeply local.
Tracy Ochieng is a staff writer with Books in Africa. Email: tracy.ochieng@ekitabu.com
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Reading Kenyan begins here: a new home for stories at Kibanga Books
“Today is a good day for Kenyan literature, for Kenyan stories, and for African books, said Brian Mokua, co-founder of Kibanga Books, at the launch of their new bookstore in Nairobi.
The event on 10 May served as a testament to determination and drive from young people willing to take a risk in the world of books.
The launch brought together book lovers, authors, and literary dreamers from across the city. In attendance was Martha Karua, a former Minister for Justice, long-standing Member of Parliament, and a presidential candidate in Kenya’s 2013 general election. Importantly, she is the author of Against The Tide, her autobiography.
Karua’s presence at the launch underscored a growing truth: literature and politics are deeply entangled with each other, and stories remain one of our most powerful tools for shaping national consciousness. Together with NaiRobbery Cocktail author Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki, author of Confessions of Nairobi Men and Women series Joan Thatiah, and the talented playwright John Sibi-Okumu, the crowd was treated to book signings and photo opportunities.
Money in the midst of a pandemic
Back in 2020, as a university student in Meru, Brian struggled to find a copy of Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. After a two-day search, he had a moment of clarity: Why not be the one to make books more accessible for others?
What started as a solo hustle — drop-shipping titles from a tiny bedsitter (even fulfilling orders in the bathroom for privacy) — quickly became a trusted name among Nairobi readers. “I was brokering books during COVID-19. That time was good to me. I made money, I read a lot. I kept asking myself, "Can I really be paid to read?”
He wasn’t just reading. He was building something.
Brian’s deep affection for African literature began with Born a Crime, but his discovery of Kenyan authors sparked something bigger.
“My first Kenyan bestseller was Things I Will Tell My Daughter by Joan Thatiah. People kept asking for it. I had to find her. Since then, Joan has been on my speed dial.”
He describes Thatiah’s stories as “real, touching, and so relatable”, especially to Nairobians. “She could drop me 300 books, and I’d sell them all in a month.” For Brian, Kenyan literature isn’t just content; it’s culture. “We can’t have outsiders telling our stories. And if we’re telling our stories, we need to read them. It starts here. At home.”
A Gen Z bookstore
Kibanga Books now has a physical home—but it’s not your typical bookstore. Brian is Gen Z, and he’s leaning into it.
“I want to read with young people. I want to grow Kibanga with them. So that when we’re all in our 40s, it still feels like home.” A lot has been said about Gen Z, and often, they are negative and demeaning comments. The most pervasive one yet is that they are lazy and too headstrong, making them impossible to work with. The team at Kibanga bookstore proves otherwise.
That spirit of hustle shows up in his delivery model, too. The store’s logo — a bicycle — is a nod to Nairobi’s fast-paced culture. “Nairobians are impatient,” he says with a laugh. “If someone wants a book in 30 minutes, we have to be ready.”
Brian’s Top Kenyan reads
Top on Brian’s reading list are several books: Confessions of Nairobi Women – Joan Thatiah
- Unplugged – Jacob Aliet
- NaiRobbery Cocktail – Empress Ciku Kimani-Mwaniki
He’s also currently reading The Second Mountain — proof that the hunger to read never stops.
Cultural custodians
“Kenyan and African literature is on the rise. This is the time,” Brian says with quiet urgency. “Book clubs — you’ve got to read Kenyan. We need to make space for more voices to rise. And most importantly, choose Kibanga Books. Because reading Kenyan begins here.”
This warm vision sits within a much larger conversation about the role of bookstores in Kenya’s literary ecosystem. As more bookshops spring up, many of them small, independent, and digitally savvy, the hope is that African stories will not only become more visible, but more accessible too. Yet a stubborn reality remains: books are still expensive for most Kenyans. The dream of a reading nation can’t ignore the economics of publishing and distribution.
Still, bookstores like Kibanga offer an alternative to imported bestseller lists and one-dimensional narratives. They become more than just sellers of books — they are cultural custodians, curators of local voices, and channels through which Kenyan and African literature can truly be read, discussed, and loved. Kibanga Books is a sign of something stirring in Kenya’s literary soil—something young, urgent, and deeply local.
Tracy Ochieng is a staff writer with Books in Africa. Email: tracy.ochieng@ekitabu.com
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