The APKR Patress Back Box is a surface-mount box that sits behind a faceplate, and Mascom International stocks it at KSh 130, brand new and sealed. It screws straight onto the face of a wall, giving a network faceplate something solid to fix to where the builder left no recessed box. The APKR Patress Back Box is the first part of a complete surface data point, followed by an APKR Faceplate and one or two keystone jacks. Buy it over the counter at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD.
Built for landlords, tenants, school ICT teams and fundis wiring older buildings across Kenya, the APKR Patress Back Box solves a common problem. Many Nairobi flats, church halls and rural schools were built with no data points at all, and cutting into stone or concrete is slow, dusty and often not allowed in a rented unit. Without a box, a faceplate has nothing to hold it, so cables end up taped to skirting boards. The APKR Patress Back Box mounts on the finished surface, so a cable run along trunking can end in a proper socket within minutes.
Where most Nairobi electronics shops stock only flush boxes for new builds, Mascom International keeps surface boxes for the retrofit jobs that make up most installations. At Mascom International, we're seeing more hostels in Juja and Ruiru and offices in Kilimani add wired points after Wi-Fi alone failed to cope with crowded rooms. Pair the APKR Patress Back Box with the APKR Faceplate 1 Port at KSh 200 or the 2 Port at KSh 250, plus the APKR Cat6 Keystone Jack at KSh 150. Collect the set from Kimathi Street, or order on WhatsApp and pay on arrival.
Common Questions About the APKR Patress Back Box
How much is the APKR Patress Back Box in Kenya?
The APKR Patress Back Box costs KSh 130, brand new, at Mascom International in Nairobi CBD. That price is for the box alone, backed by a 6-month warranty; faceplates and keystone jacks are sold separately. A finished single surface point comes to KSh 480 with the APKR Faceplate 1 Port and one APKR Cat6 Keystone Jack. A twin point costs KSh 680 with the 2 Port plate and two jacks. Delivery is pay-on-arrival, by cash or M-Pesa.
Should I use the APKR Patress Back Box or a recessed flush box?
Use the APKR Patress Back Box when the wall is already finished and you cannot or will not cut into it. A flush box sits inside the wall, so the plate ends up level with the paint, but fitting one means chasing a hole into stone or concrete and patching it afterwards. That suits new construction before plastering. The surface box stands proud of the wall, takes minutes to fix, and leaves no damage when removed, which makes it the practical pick for retrofits and rentals.
Is the APKR Patress Back Box suitable for rented flats in Nairobi?
Yes, the APKR Patress Back Box is well suited to rented flats because it needs only a couple of screw holes rather than a chiselled recess. Many Nairobi landlords forbid tenants from cutting into walls, and a surface box sidesteps that rule. When you move out, the box unscrews and the holes fill with a little putty. Tenants in Kilimani, South B and Ruaka use this approach to bring a wired link from a Safaricom or Zuku router into a bedroom office.
Who should buy the APKR Patress Back Box, and who should skip it?
Buy the APKR Patress Back Box if you are adding a data point to a finished wall with no recessed box behind it. Electricians on retrofit jobs, school bursars upgrading computer labs and tenants who cannot cut walls are the usual buyers. Skip it if your wall already has a flush box at the right spot, because the faceplate screws onto that directly. Builders working before plastering should fit flush boxes instead, for a finish level with the wall.
Will the APKR Patress Back Box fit both the 1 Port and 2 Port APKR Faceplates?
The APKR Patress Back Box is sold to sit behind APKR faceplates, and both the 1 Port and 2 Port plates share the same outer format. All three follow the standard square UK-style size used across Kenya for sockets and data points. Our stock sheet does not list exact measurements, so confirm against your box on WhatsApp if you are mixing it with plates from another maker. Buying the box and plate together from Mascom International is the simplest way to guarantee a match.
How does the cable get into the APKR Patress Back Box?
Cable reaches the APKR Patress Back Box either through the wall behind it or along surface trunking that meets one of its sides. For a through-wall run, drill a small hole where the box will sit and feed the cable through before fixing it. For surface runs, the cable enters from the side where the trunking ends. The cable entry points on this batch are not listed on our stock sheet, so ask us on WhatsApp to describe the box before you plan the route.
How do I fix the APKR Patress Back Box to a stone or concrete wall?
On stone or concrete, fix the APKR Patress Back Box with wall plugs and screws through the holes in its base. Mark the holes with the box held level, drill with a masonry bit, push in the plugs, then screw the box firmly home. Nairobi blue stone and the coral block common in Mombasa both hold plugs well when drilled cleanly. Feed the cable in before the final screw, leaving enough slack to terminate the keystone jack comfortably.
Can the APKR Patress Back Box go on gypsum or timber partitions?
Yes, the APKR Patress Back Box mounts on gypsum board and timber partitions, which are common in modern Westlands and Upper Hill office fit-outs. On timber, wood screws go straight in. On gypsum, use plasterboard fixings rated for the board, since ordinary screws can pull out when a patch lead is tugged. Where the partition is hollow, many installers drop the cable inside the cavity and bring it out through a hole directly behind the box, hiding the run completely.
Technical Specifications
Core Function
- Surface-mount housing — fixes onto a finished wall face, giving a faceplate a solid base without cutting a recess.
- Faceplate backing — the APKR Faceplate screws onto the front, closing the box to form a finished data point.
- Jack enclosure — keeps the rear of each keystone jack and the cable termination covered and out of reach.
- Retrofit role — designed for adding points to existing buildings rather than for installation before plastering.
- Data point use — sold here as part of low-voltage network points, alongside APKR faceplates and keystone jacks.
Compatibility
- APKR faceplates — meant to sit behind both the APKR Faceplate 1 Port and the APKR Faceplate 2 Port.
- Square UK-style format — matches the plate size common across Kenya; confirm against your plate on WhatsApp if mixing brands.
- Keystone jacks — leaves space behind the plate for the APKR Cat6 Keystone Jack and its terminated cable.
- Trunking runs — pairs with surface cable trunking, which carries the cable along the wall to the box.
- Wall types — mounts on brick, stone, concrete block, timber and gypsum using the right fixings for each.
Build
- Stands proud of the wall — sits on the surface, so the finished point projects slightly from the paintwork.
- Base fixing holes — screw holes in the back let it anchor to the wall with plugs or wood screws.
- Front screw points — receive the faceplate screws so the plate closes the box neatly.
- Colour and dimensions — not listed on our stock sheet; WhatsApp us for the finish and size on the current batch.
- New condition — every box is sealed stock, never reclaimed from a previous installation.
Installation Steps
- Choose the spot — pick a point near the device, ideally just above desk height or skirting level.
- Prepare the cable — bring it through the wall or along trunking to the chosen position first.
- Fix the box — hold it level, mark and drill, then screw it on with plugs suited to the wall.
- Terminate the jack — punch the cable onto the keystone jack and snap the jack into the faceplate.
- Close the point — screw the faceplate onto the box, then test the link with a laptop or cable tester.
Building a Complete Point
- Single point parts — one APKR Patress Back Box, one APKR Faceplate 1 Port and one keystone jack.
- Single point cost — KSh 130 box, KSh 200 plate and KSh 150 jack, totalling KSh 480.
- Twin point parts — the box, an APKR Faceplate 2 Port and two keystone jacks.
- Twin point cost — KSh 130, KSh 250 and KSh 300 in jacks, totalling KSh 680.
- Tools to have ready — drill, masonry bit, screwdriver, punch-down tool and a basic cable tester.
Inclusions
- One APKR Patress Back Box — a single brand-new surface box.
- Faceplate not included — choose the APKR Faceplate 1 Port at KSh 200 or 2 Port at KSh 250.
- Keystone jacks not included — the APKR Cat6 Keystone Jack is KSh 150 at Mascom International.
- Fixings — wall plugs and screws vary by batch; ask on WhatsApp what ships with the box.
- 6-month warranty — covers manufacturing defects through our Nairobi CBD service desk.
Package Contents
You receive one APKR Patress Back Box, brand new, ready to fix to the wall. The box is only the housing, so the faceplate and keystone jacks come separately; add an APKR Faceplate and the APKR Cat6 Keystone Jack to your order to finish the point. Whether wall plugs or screws are packed with it changes between batches, and stone walls need masonry plugs anyway, so ask us on WhatsApp what this batch includes before you head to site.
Warranty
Mascom International covers the APKR Patress Back Box with a 6-month warranty against manufacturing defects, such as a cracked housing or stripped faceplate screw points. Bring the box to our Nairobi CBD service desk on Kimathi Street, where our staff will process the claim.
Where to Buy the APKR Patress Back Box in Kenya
Mascom International keeps the APKR Patress Back Box at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Drop in Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and hold a faceplate against the box at the counter to check the fit for yourself. Its colour is not shown on our stock sheet, so ask which finish we have in today. Fundis buying for several rooms can request box, plate and jack sets priced together.
Message, call or browse with us through these channels:
- Phone/WhatsApp: +254 708 852 521
- Email: info@mascomintl.com
- Website: www.mascomintl.com
Every order travels pay-on-arrival to all 47 counties. Nairobi and its environs receive deliveries the same day, and schools and installers in Nyeri, Kakamega, Meru and Kericho get theirs the next business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. Each box carries the 6-month warranty above. Our listings state only the specifications we can stand behind, our prices match what you pay at the counter, and our support continues long after the box is on the wall.
