The Independent
· collected 2026-09-09 · by Nicholas Komu and Moses Ndung'u
A young acrobat named Mohammed Nyale and his group of five fellow performers have turned Nairobi's traffic jams into a way to earn a living. The group, who started performing in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, typically practice in an empty field in Kawangware and then head out onto the roads during morning peak hour to display their acrobatic skills for tips from drivers. Each member can earn around $6 on a successful day, which is comparable to the daily wage of casual laborers in construction or farming, according to figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. The group sees this work as a means to cover basic living costs and escape poverty, but faces competition from other acrobatic troupes emerging across the city.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In Nairobi, Kenya's capital city, a group of street acrobats has turned traffic jams into a source of income. The performers, who are all dressed in identical outfits, use the congestion to display their skills and earn tips from drivers stuck at intersections. They made their debut in 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, and have since become a regular sight in the city. The group's members had initially hoped for careers in traditional theaters, but instead they now perform on the streets. One of the performers, Mohammed Nyale, 22, said he took up acrobatics at age 15 and has been performing ever since. By taking advantage of Nairobi's notorious traffic gridlock, the street acrobats are able to earn a living through their skills.
Written for “Kenya's Traffic Jugglers” on 2026-09-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
As the traffic signals turn red at a congested junction in the Kenyan capital, a young performer dressed in leopard print steps into the road to tumble through the air.
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performer → turn → air
He is joined by five identically dressed companions who together execute a series of acrobatic maneuvers.
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who → join → maneuvers
One performer, juggling woven hats, detaches from the group to approach drivers in stationary vehicles.
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performer → juggle → vehicles
Hoping for generous tips, he offers his hat to motorist after motorist while the rest of the troupe continues their display.
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rest → hop → display
As soon as the lights change to green, the group quickly clears the road.
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group → change → road
Nairobi's street acrobats made their debut in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic and have since become a regular sight at traffic stops throughout the city.
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acrobats → make → city
Taking advantage of heavy gridlock, these performers display their skills in return for cash to earn their livelihood.
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performers → take → livelihood
Mohammed Nyale, 22, said he took up acrobatics hoping for a life-changing occupation.
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he → say → occupation
"I have always loved acrobatics since I started performing at 15 years old," he said.
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he → love → acrobatics
He and his fellow group members departed their homes along the Kenyan coast dreaming of theatrical careers and packed theatres, but have instead settled for the streets, demonstrating their acrobatic stunts to drivers trapped in Nairobi's perpetual traffic.
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He → depart → traffic
Nyale’s troupe meets early in the morning in a vacant field in Kawangware, an impoverished neighbourhood in Nairobi, to practice their acts.
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troupe → meet → acts
They subsequently head out onto the roads as traffic begins to build during the morning peak hour.
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traffic → head → hour
"We say a prayer before changing into our costumes," Nyale said.
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Nyale → say → costumes
Performing typically until midday, they take turns requesting tips from motorists.
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they → perform → motorists
Sums donated are generally modest, rarely exceeding 50 shillings (approximately 40 US cents).
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Sums → donate → shillings
Because many Kenyans rely on mobile wallets, the acrobats also pass out slips of paper bearing phone numbers to which money can be sent.
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money → rely → which
On a successful day, each member can earn roughly $6, which is enough to cover basic living costs, though on some days earnings are higher.
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earnings → earn → days
That matches the daily wage earned by most casual labourers in construction or farming in a country where unemployment remains widespread.
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unemployment → match → country
Youth unemployment was measured between 4.9 per cent and 9.9 per cent in 2024, according to figures from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics.
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unemployment → measure → Statistics
Earning money from street performances "is what enables us to live in Nairobi because we moved here from quite far and no one is helping us to pay rent," Nyale said.
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Nyale → earn → rent
They face competition, as acrobatic troupes have emerged across the city.
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troupes → face → city
On the other side of town, a group including 28-year-old Jackson Okoth entertained motorists along Lang'ata Road.
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group → include → Road
"There are no opportunities for us that we can go to, so we like it when we are here because it keeps us busy and it keeps us fit also," Okoth said.
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Okoth → be → us
"Instead of staying at home and doing reckless things, we decided to come here and perform for motorists and pedestrians."
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we → stay → motorists
Okoth aspires to join a professional circus and travel the globe.
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Okoth → aspire → globe
"I am still on my way, I am still trying, I am still working hard so that one day things might go well and I may find myself in Europe performing in a circus show," he said.
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he → try → show
Some drivers view the acrobats as an annoyance.
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drivers → view → annoyance
Others welcome the distraction.
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Others → welcome → distraction
They entertain us and we feel good," said Geoffrey Kioi, a Nairobi entrepreneur who regularly gives tips to the acrobats.
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who → entertain → acrobats
They need to hustle.
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They → need → ?
