Incidents of mechanics stealing spare parts from vehicles are unfortunately a growing issue in certain parts of Nairobi, including Kirinyaga Road, a bustling area known for its many garages and spare parts shops.
Recently, a man exposed two mechanics from this area, accusing them of removing parts from his vehicle without his consent, highlighting the ongoing problem of theft in this sector.
Kirinyaga Road has long been infamous for its association with both legitimate vehicle repair businesses and less scrupulous mechanics.
The open-air garages and the maze of spare parts shops attract many people needing car repairs, but some mechanics take advantage of unsuspecting customers by swapping genuine parts for old or faulty ones, or even stealing them outright.
This situation has fostered an atmosphere of mistrust between customers and mechanics in the area
Such thefts aren’t unique to Nairobi, as this trend has been reported in various countries. In many cases, mechanics remove expensive parts like sensors, gearboxes, or even basic items like bulbs, to sell them off while leaving the vehicle owner none the wiser.
Some mechanics have even been caught exchanging parts between vehicles without the knowledge of the car owners
To combat this, many garage owners and customers are taking preventive measures.
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Customers have started marking their car parts to ensure they remain untouched, while some garages are installing security cameras and implementing strict inventory checks to hold employees accountable.
Nonetheless, car part theft remains a significant challenge in the automotive industry
This issue reflects broader challenges within Nairobi’s informal mechanic sector, where mechanics often face poor working conditions and lack oversight.
Kirinyaga Road’s mechanics operate in an environment shaped by decades of history, dating back to the post-World War II era when the area became a hub for car repairs.
