Mechanics, tailors & 3 other jobs where trust is a risky investment
At the end of the day, these professions, despite their notorious reputations, are stitched into the very fabric of Kenyan life.
Sharon Koech
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Some professions are not just jobs—they're running jokes, cautionary tales, and memes waiting to happen.
Ask any Nairobian about their worst mechanic experience, and you’ll get a dramatic saga involving vanishing parts, invented problems, and WhatsApp blue ticks.
Mention a carpenter, and someone will recall a cabinet that took six months for the clear varnish paint to dry.
Yet, these same professionals are the backbone of our daily lives—keeping our cars running, homes standing, and clothes stitched.
Their work is vital, but their reputations often carry a shadow of suspicion. Somewhere between genuine skill and cheeky lies the reason why certain trades inspire both trust and side-eyes.
Here are five professions that spark both respect and eye-rolls, peeling back the layers of mischief and missed deadlines.
Car problems can be stressful, and for many Kenyans, a visit to the mechanic feels like walking into a real-life episode of Ripoff Kenya.
Mechanics have gained a notorious reputation for turning minor issues into major repairs—and for inventing parts you've never heard of. One common trick involves exaggerating problems, sourcing counterfeit parts at cheaper rates, and charging the client for expensive originals. Fundis—especially carpenters and masons—are the true magicians of Kenyan labour. They can turn timber and nails into a palace... if they ever show up. The issue lies partly in overbooking. Fundis juggle multiple clients, often taking on more than they can handle to maximise earnings. Social media has become a platform for both exposing rogue fundis and celebrating reliable ones, giving rise to more accountability through public pressure.
Plumbers are the emergency service you wish you didn’t need. From leaking taps to burst pipes and blocked toilets, their work is essential—but their punctuality and pricing? Questionable. Some plumbers are also accused of creating future work for themselves. It’s not uncommon to hear that they intentionally do half-jobs or use cheap materials so that you’ll have to call them again—another payday. Electricians often hold the literal power to your house in their hands, yet many are known more for their shortcuts than their skill. It gets worse. There are horror stories of electricians who miswire entire buildings, causing appliances to short-circuit. "Kesho saa tano unavaa." This is arguably the most repeated lie in Kenya’s fashion industry. Tailors, especially around big events like weddings, graduations, and elections, are infamous for missed deadlines and half-done work. The problem often stems from over-promising. Tailors fear losing clients, so they accept multiple orders without capacity to deliver on time. Many clients now rely on referrals or social media reviews, and some tailors have begun using digital platforms to build credibility. But when they get it right? That tailored outfit becomes a masterpiece, a reminder that among the lies and delays, there is also talent worth waiting for.
If your engine light blinks, you’ll hear diagnoses like “Injector imechapa” or “Gearbox imeharibika kabisa,” often accompanied by a quote that triples your budget.
Sometimes, parts that didn't need replacing are replaced anyway—and you may not know the difference until it’s too late.
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2. Fundis & carpenters – The great disappearing act
It’s a common Kenyan experience to have a fundi who vanishes after taking your deposit, claiming niko site or tools zilibaki kwa ile site ingine.
That kitchen cabinet you paid for last month? Still “drying.” That custom sofa? “Next week iko ready,”—every week.
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Add to this a culture where clients don’t sign contracts or demand timelines, and it’s the perfect breeding ground for delays and excuses.
And yet, Kenyans continue to engage them because the good ones—though rare—deliver high-quality work at affordable prices.
3. Plumbers – Pipe dreams and pipe leaks
A classic Nairobi plumber might say “Nimefika tao nakuja” and then show up two days later. In worse scenarios, the plumber ‘fixes’ the leak only for it to spring back twice as bad.
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Others inflate prices on parts or charge for full-day work even when they only spend a few hours on site.
4. Electricians – The live wire conmen
A common complaint among Kenyans is overcharging, especially when clients don’t understand what parts or tools are actually needed.
Some electricians exploit this gap by replacing functional parts, charging for work not done, or using counterfeit materials that pose serious fire risks later on.
The irony is that most clients don’t know anything is wrong until a fuse blows or a socket sparks. Even then, the same electrician is often called back, continuing the cycle.
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5. Tailors – The lords of last minute lies
The dread begins when they stop picking your calls and ends when you show up and find your fabric untouched.
Add in equipment breakdowns, electricity issues, or simply poor time management, and the result is tears and unmet expectations.
But the reputation persists. Even the best tailors know to pad their delivery promises with extra days because—well—life happens.
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