Public transport minibuses are known as Matatus which dominate the public transport system of Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Beloved by the young and elderly alike, the ‘matatu’ minibuses of Kenya are colorful, known for blaring out loud music, and have become more and more extravagant in their design. Travelling in a matatu can sometimes be chaotic due to the blaring music but often you will find yourself in a cosy, quiet matatu when headed to work or home.

The Nairobi traffic is a reason why you should always have a book with you. Reading on the matatu makes the journey so much better. You might not be able to find an hour every day to read, this just isn’t possible for people with busy lives and other priorities. But there’ll be a moment when you’re sitting on the matatu, stuck in traffic, a prime opportunities to sneak a few pages of reading in. Reduce your screen time, pick up a book instead!

Here are some of the reasons you should always carry a book on your matatu ride; 

Your book will never run out of battery
How many times have you been sat on a long matatu ride home when your phone suddenly runs out of battery? Typical.

Now what are you supposed to do for 45 minutes?

Well, if you have a book on you, you’ve got a great way to fill the time. You can easily dip into another world and you’ll soon forget your miserable matatu journey.

What’s more, the time will pass a lot quicker than it would if you spent the time scrolling through your Instagram feed for the eleventh time that day.

People will think you’re intelligent
When I see someone reading on the matatu, they go up by about 200% in my estimations. It doesn’t matter what they’re reading, I am just happy that more people are reading. I immediately think that they must be a person I’d be capable of holding a conversation with about something other than Nairobi weather.

Anyone carrying a book also appears to me as someone with a curious mind who is open to learning more about the world and thus I assume they have some level of intelligence. In every book there is an opportunity to learn more about language, culture, concepts, people, feelings and more.

You’ll actually become more intelligent
Further to my point above, you will actually become more intelligent. Obviously, if you’re reading and absorbing non-fiction or textbooks, you’ll learn new things.

However, fiction can be very educational too. You might learn more about different cultures, relationships, the human condition and more. Even when I’m reading passages from children’s books as part of my tutoring, I pick up new, obscure vocabulary.

In fact, people who read more are more intelligent across the board. Yes, really. It doesn’t matter what you read, so long as you read.

It’s a great way to avoid people
A great way to avoid people is simply to stick your head in a book. If you’re carrying a book, you can get lost in another universe and hide from the public at large at the same time – win, win.

Plus, if the book is good enough, it should make you forget all about your surroundings and you can imagine yourself someplace else for a brief moment.

It’s also a great conversation starter
Converse to the point above, carrying a book with you can also be a great conversation starter for times when you do feel like socialising. If I’m meeting up with someone and they’ve got a book in their hand, I’ll always ask them what they’re reading and whether it’s worth picking up.

I would never do this myself, but I have often been asked about the books I am reading on the matatu by whomever is sitting opposite me and I’m quite happy to share my opinions with other curious readers.