The Read to Resist Café

The Read to Resist Café is an immersive literary salon curated by Nairobi Book Love, in partnership with IPAS, that brings together readers, writers, and change-makers to explore books that challenge systems, celebrate resistance, and affirm justice. Held quarterly, the Café selects a book that resonates with core themes of empowerment, freedom, and social transformation, and anchors a live, interactive panel conversation around it.

This intimate gathering of about 50 participants is designed as more than just a book discussion—it is a space of belonging, dialogue, and deep reflection. Each edition includes networking opportunities, curated panel sessions, plenaries, and book signings, all within an atmosphere that values thoughtfulness, community, and courage. The entire experience is documented for social amplification and future learning.

By pairing literature with lived experience and activism, the Café harnesses the power of storytelling to hold space for critical engagement and collective healing.

Edition I: The Havoc of Choice: The Human Cost of Political Injustice

On 26th April 2025, Nairobi Book Love hosted an intimate literary gathering centered on The Havoc of Choice by Wanjiru Koinange. Held in a carefully curated safe space for just 50 attendees, the event fostered meaningful engagement on Kenya’s history of political violence and its enduring social impact. Moderated by Nairobi Book Love founder Kui Kabala, the conversation featured author Wanjiru Koinange alongside gender rights advocate Njeri Migwi and community organizer Ritah Obonyo. The panel unpacked the novel’s themes of identity, power, and silence, set against the backdrop of the 2007 post-election violence.

The discussion delved deeply into the human cost of political injustice, spotlighting how cycles of violence in Kenya have seeded inter-generational trauma. Panelists emphasized the often-overlooked role of women in grassroots peace building and underscored the transformative power of storytelling in national healing. Through literature, they argued, citizens are invited to confront historical truths and imagine new paths toward justice and reconciliation. The event reaffirmed the novel’s resonance as a tool for civic dialogue and collective memory.

Edition II: Against the Tide: A Journey Through Politics and Power

On Saturday, June 7th, 2025, Nairobi Book Love hosted an intimate edition of the Read to Resist Café, featuring Against the Tide, the memoir of Hon. Martha Karua, SC. With 50 invited guests, the event maintained the Café’s signature atmosphere of intentional, reflective dialogue. Moderated by Kui Kabala, the conversation centered on Karua’s fearless journey through law, governance, and feminist activism. The memoir, deeply resonant in political and leadership discourse, served as a springboard for discussions on resistance, justice, and the power of personal narrative.

The discussion explored the lived realities of fighting for justice in Africa, spotlighting Karua’s strategic use of law, media, and grassroots organizing to challenge power. Audience members engaged deeply, participating in a collective reading of powerful excerpts and sharing personal reflections—including one young activist who credited Karua’s work with inspiring her own legal journey. The evening reaffirmed the role of storytelling in movement building, reminding all present that resistance is both a fight and a form of endurance.