Walk into any auto parts market in Nairobi — from Kirinyaga Road to Industrial Area — and you will find parts at wildly varying prices for the same component. The question every car owner faces: which do I buy?
What Are Genuine (OEM) Parts?
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer. Genuine parts are made by the same company that produced the original part for your vehicle — or under direct license from the car maker. A genuine Toyota brake pad, for example, is made to the exact specification as what was fitted on your car from the Japanese factory.
Pros: Exact fit, known quality, manufacturer warranty, higher resale value.
Cons: 30–80% more expensive than quality aftermarket; some parts require ordering.
What Are Aftermarket Parts?
Aftermarket parts are made by independent manufacturers — not the original car maker — but designed to be compatible with your vehicle. Crucially: aftermarket quality varies enormously. A quality brand like Brembo (brakes), Monroe (shocks), or Denso (sensors) can equal or exceed OEM quality. A cheap unknown brand can fail within weeks and cause serious damage.
The Counterfeit Problem in Kenya
This is the real danger. Counterfeit parts — packaged to look genuine but made from inferior materials — are widespread in the Kenyan market. Counterfeit brake pads use inferior friction material that can fail completely at high temperatures. Counterfeit oil filters can collapse internally, starving the engine of oil. This is why where you buy is as important as what you buy.
Our Part-by-Part Recommendation
- Brake pads and rotors: Always genuine or top-tier aftermarket only. Never unknown cheap brands.
- Oil and air filters: Quality aftermarket (Denso, Bosch, Sakura) is perfectly fine and affordable.
- Suspension bushes and links: Quality aftermarket acceptable. Ball joints and wheel bearings — prefer genuine.
- Head gaskets: Genuine or name-brand aftermarket (Elring, Victor Reinz) only.
- Electrical sensors: Genuine strongly preferred — cheap sensors cause incorrect readings and poor performance.
How We Source at Kasimolo Auto Masters
We source exclusively from verified distributors and authorised suppliers. Every part we supply comes with a warranty. We never knowingly stock or fit counterfeit parts, and we are happy to show you the part before it is installed.
Questions about parts? Call us: 0722 267 301