Whether new to Nairobi or not, you are familiar with street book vendors. Often referred to as Inama booksellers in Nairobi, these vendors utilize strategic locations along busy city streets.
They mainly sell second-hand books, and they trade throughout the day.
The meaning of Inama
Christened by most Nairobians as Inama bookstores, the name means bend over. As the name suggests, you must bend over and look for the books you want. Inama booksellers in Nairobi do not have the luxuries of silence or a well-conditioned room. You must choose your titles among other readers digging in a pile right in the streets.
There is no limit to the time you take to choose your book(s); once you get them, you ask for the price, pay, and be on your way. So, with everything going on, one would wonder how Inama booksellers in Nairobi promote reading.
Affordability of books
Unlike new books sold in supermarkets and other bookstores, the Inama booksellers in Nairobi make books accessible through cheap pricing. Some books may have fixed prices, but you can negotiate for others and take as many as possible. For instance, a book that may go for KSh2000 may cost you KSh400 or even less, depending on its condition. Additionally, the prices are influenced by the street from which the vendor operates.
They sell assorted books.
Most Inama booksellers in Nairobi sell various categories of books and magazines. However, others specialize in novels alone. The idea of selling all assorted types of books has contributed significantly to the growing reading culture in Nairobi.
They operate throughout the year.
Inama booksellers in Nairobi do not close their shops unless they run out of stock, which rarely happens. Whether you want a book in the morning or evening, they operate throughout the day. Their secondhand books are available throughout the year, whether you want hardcovers, novels, cookbooks, textbooks, and more. The effect is that you can maintain a reading culture all year round.
They stock regularly
The Inama booksellers in Nairobi stock the books regularly. You may befriend a bookseller to ensure you do not miss out on exciting titles. What matters is that the Inama book sellers in Nairobi have rapidly made it easy for Nairobians to enhance a reading culture.