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Kenyan Electronics Manufacturing Surges Ahead
Two companies are paving the way to produce critical electronics components in Nairobi.
Written by Mercy C. Wanjiku Nduati
When it comes to electronics manufacturing, Asia Pacific countries—especially China, along with Japan and South Korea—dominate the market due to cost efficiency, material access, and rapid production capabilities. But one Kenyan company is carving out its own space in the global electronics manufacturing sector: Gearbox Europlacer, specializing in local printed circuit board (PCB) production.
As Kenya shifts toward industrialization and technological self-reliance, this startup is laying the groundwork for a resilient, homegrown electronics ecosystem.
Gearbox is providing end-to-end electronics manufacturing services (EMS), particularly in the Internet of Things (IoT) space. Unlike companies such as M-KOPA and local e-mobility assemblers that focus on imported kit assembly, Gearbox is focused on true electronics manufacturing.
“We're not just assembling—we’re building the core of devices,” said Latiff Cherono, chief operations officer and general manager at Gearbox. “This ensures supply chain resilience, speeds up product cycles, and reduces development costs and tariffs.”
Operating as a high-mix, low-volume producer, Gearbox works closely with innovators who lack in-house hardware expertise. Its engineers—ranging from embedded systems and firmware designers to quality and test engineers—are involved throughout the entire product lifecycle.
Gearbox is bringing circuit board manufacturing to the Kenyan market. Photo: Gearbox
Locally produced printed circuit boards will help reduce product development costs while also strengthening the supply chain. Photo: Gearbox
Gearbox’s manufacturing facility in Nairobi is fully equipped with a stencil, a solder paste printer (applies solder paste on a board), a pick and place feeder machine (used to place components into the machine), an oven (heats the paste placed on the components being printed), and a cooling system (used on the boards after they are heated to 250 °C).
“During prototype design, three key types of engineers are involved: embedded systems engineers, who design the hardware; firmware engineers, who develop the software code that runs on the device; and test and validation engineers, who ensure the design meets functional requirements,” added Njunge wa Mwaura, Gearbox’s lead production engineer.
In the manufacturing phase, additional specialists play a role, including manufacturing engineers who program and position components accurately, testing engineers who assess and validate performance, and quality engineers who ensure the final product meets established standards.
This kind of end-to-end support is becoming increasingly vital across Kenya’s growing maker space ecosystem. In Kisumu County, Fablab Winam, an innovation space founded by Martin Oloo, is also pushing boundaries in local manufacturing. Unlike industrial-scale players, Fablab Winam supports community-driven innovation from ideation to prototyping through digital fabrication techniques like 3D printing, CNC machining, laser cutting, and human-centered design.
“The primary purpose of these techniques at Fablab is rapid prototyping. We support projects from the ideation phase through to prototyping, enabling the creation of tangible models and products. We’re trying to empower local communities to solve their problems,” Oloo said. “From waste management to affordable farming tools, our focus is on local solutions for local challenges,” he added.
FabLab is working on projects such as a bicycle-to-three-wheeler conversion for waste collection, a locally made tractor prototype for smallholder farmers, and 3D-printed microscopes for use in schools.
To produce PCBs, Gearbox’s Nairobi manufacturing facility is equipped with tools including a solder paste printer, a pick and place feeder machine, and a cooling system. Photo: Gearbox
Both institutions are champions of STEM and local manufacturing. Gearbox trains engineers in modern design and manufacturing processes, while Fablab Winam runs initiatives such as "SheBuilds" to bring more women into hardware tech and "Juakali Plus" to support artisans in improving the quality of their products.
As Gearbox integrates Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies such as AI and IoT to its advanced design software to its workflow, it also applies rigorous international testing standards like the Plan-Do-Check cycle to ensure product reliability and consistency. Fablab Winam, though more resource-constrained, continues exploring similar directions through low-cost IoT and robotics prototypes for educational and community applications.
Collaboration is a key pillar of their growth. Gearbox maintains strategic partnerships with local and international institutions, including Kenyatta University, the University of Nairobi, and the Kenya Space Agency, to foster research, standardization, and talent development. On the other hand, Fablab has partnered with the Kenya Industrial Property Institute (KIPI), and it has been recognized as a test center for intellectual property registration.
This development aligns with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and its push toward industrialization, digital transformation, and reducing dependency on imported electronic components. The emergence of players like Gearbox and community spaces like Fablab Winam signals the beginning of a dynamic, grassroots-led electronics innovation ecosystem in the country.
Kenya’s PCB manufacturing industry has grown over the past decade, with rising imports, limited exports, and slowly developing domestic capabilities. However, the sector still relies heavily on assembly, and only a handful of firms have begun producing locally designed PCBs and electronics. The arrival of companies such as Gearbox Europlacer and Fablab signals a move toward integrated electronic manufacturing services, though this shift remains in its early stages.
MERCY C. WANJIKU NDUATI is an editorial fellow based in Nairobi, Kenya, with Engineering for Change, an online platform for innovators working to solve problems in sustainable global development. ASME is a founding partner of E4C.
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