Mascom International stocks the Apple MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard at KSh 5,000, an original British-layout replacement for the white 13-inch MacBook released in Late 2009 and Mid 2010. The Apple MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard comes brand new and sealed, with the tall Enter key, the £ sign on the 3 key and the § key in the top-left corner. It matches the factory arrangement on every A1342 first sold in Britain, key for key and symbol for symbol. Walk in to Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD to inspect one before booking fitting.
A large share of the white MacBooks in Kenya arrived second-hand from Britain through Mombasa port, carrying UK keyboards their owners learned to type on. When those keys fail, many repair counters offer only a US keyboard or a set of stickers, leaving # and £ in unfamiliar places and the Enter key the wrong shape for the case. The Apple MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard returns that laptop to its proper British layout. Writers, accountants, freelance designers and university lecturers who type quickly by feel get their shortcuts and symbols exactly where their fingers expect them.
Where most Nairobi electronics shops treat every MacBook keyboard as interchangeable, Mascom International stocks the Apple MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard as its own item and checks your top case before fitting. Buyers throughout Kenya tell us the relief comes on the first day, when touch-typing speed returns without hunting for symbols. Our technicians install the Apple MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard at Kimathi Street, since the part is fixed inside the top case and needs a near-complete strip-down. Customers outside Nairobi can order with pay-on-arrival delivery and have a trusted local technician fit it.
Common Questions About the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard
How can I tell whether my MacBook A1342 originally had a UK keyboard?
Your MacBook A1342 originally had a UK keyboard if the Enter key is tall and shaped like an upside-down L, spanning two rows. Two more clues confirm it: the 3 key shows a £ sign, and the key at the far top-left shows §. A US machine has a short, wide Enter key and a longer left Shift. Send a clear photo of your current keyboard to Mascom International on WhatsApp and we confirm the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard is the correct match.
Why can't a US keyboard simply replace a failed UK one on the A1342?
A US keyboard does not suit a UK A1342 because the top case openings around the keys are cut for one layout. The UK Enter key is tall, while the US Enter key is short and wide, and the left Shift key differs in length too. Forcing a mismatched keyboard behind the openings leaves gaps, sticking keys or blocked keys. The MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard lines up with the openings a British-market MacBook already has, so every key sits flush.
Where do £, # and @ sit on the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard?
On the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard, Shift plus 3 types £, Option plus 3 types #, and Shift plus 2 types @. That last one surprises people used to Windows UK laptops, which put @ elsewhere. The § and ± symbols sit on the key at the top-left, while the ` and ~ symbols move to a small key beside the left Shift. Once macOS is set to British input, every printed symbol types exactly what it shows.
MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard or a US keyboard with UK stickers, which is better?
The MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard is better, because stickers change only the printed letters, never the key shapes or the openings in the top case. A US keyboard fitted to a UK case still has a short Enter key and the wrong left Shift, so it will not sit properly. Stickers also wear off within months under daily typing and leave sticky residue. The original UK part costs the same KSh 5,000 as our unspecified-layout listing and solves the problem permanently.
Does the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard make KRA iTax or eCitizen forms harder to fill?
No, the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard handles KRA iTax returns, eCitizen applications and M-Pesa statement downloads without any extra steps. Letters, numbers, the full stop and the @ sign for your email login all sit in the usual places. Only a few symbols differ from US layout, mainly # and the backtick, and government forms rarely ask for them. Typing a KSh amount, a KRA PIN or an ID number works exactly as it would on any other keyboard.
Which macOS setting should I check after the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard is fitted?
After fitting the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard, open System Preferences, choose Keyboard, then Input Sources, and make sure British is selected. If the laptop was set to U.S. by a previous owner, the £ key will type # until you change it. Remove any input sources you never use, so the menu bar stops switching layouts by accident. Our technicians set this before handing the laptop back, but buyers fitting at home should check it themselves.
Who should buy the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard, and who should skip it?
Buy the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard if your A1342 has a UK top case, still boots normally, and only the keys have failed. Skip it if your MacBook has a US top case, because the short-Enter openings will not match; ask Mascom International about a US-layout unit instead. Also skip it if you need software newer than macOS High Sierra, the last version the A1342 officially supports. A used HP EliteBook from Mascom serves that buyer far better.
What happens when I bring my MacBook in for UK keyboard fitting at Kimathi Street?
When you bring your MacBook for MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard fitting, our technician first compares the top case openings with the new part. We then open the bottom case, disconnect the battery, and lift out the internal parts, including the logic board, to free the old keyboard. After reassembly, every key is tested, including £, # and the Eject key. Book a slot on WhatsApp so a technician is ready when you arrive.
Is the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard an original Apple part?
Yes, the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard is an original Apple part, supplied brand new and sealed rather than pulled from a broken laptop. You can check it yourself: the keycap lettering is sharp and evenly printed, the key spacing matches your top case, and the ribbon connector fits without force. Inspect the sealed part at our counter before fitting, or open it on delivery before paying. Original parts are worth insisting on for a repair this involved.
Technical Specifications
British Layout Details
- Tall Enter key spanning two rows, the inverted-L shape that defines ISO layouts used across the United Kingdom.
- Shift plus 3 types £ directly, which matters for anyone still invoicing or corresponding with British clients and family.
- Option plus 3 produces #, a shortcut UK Mac users already know from years of typing on their machine.
- The top-left key carries § and ±, while ` and ~ move beside a shorter left Shift key.
- Shift plus 2 gives @, exactly as on US Mac keyboards, so email addresses type without any relearning.
Typing Feel and Function Keys
- Scissor-style switches under every key restore the short, even travel the A1342 had when it first shipped.
- Full function row controls screen brightness, playback and volume, so common adjustments need only one key press.
- Eject key at the top right still serves the built-in optical drive for DVDs and installation discs.
- White keycaps with dark lettering match the polycarbonate body, so the repair looks factory-made from across a desk.
- Not backlit, because no A1342 MacBook ever shipped with keyboard lighting in either the 2009 or 2010 year.
- Command, Option, Control and fn keys keep their standard Mac positions, so familiar shortcuts work on day one.
Compatibility and Top Case Match
- Fits Model A1342 only, meaning the Late 2009 MacBook6,1 and the Mid 2010 MacBook7,1 in white polycarbonate.
- Suits machines whose top case already has UK openings, recognisable by a tall Enter-key cut-out shape.
- Not suited to a US top case, where the shorter Enter opening would leave the larger key unable to sit.
- Excludes the aluminium MacBook Pro A1278 and the older removable-battery white MacBook, which use different parts entirely.
- The model number is printed on the laptop base, so a quick look confirms A1342 before you order anything.
- Driver-free operation under every macOS release the A1342 supports, finishing with macOS High Sierra on both model years.
macOS Setup After Fitting
- Select British under System Preferences, Keyboard, Input Sources, so each printed symbol types what it shows on screen.
- Remove the U.S. input source if a previous owner added it, avoiding accidental layout switches mid-sentence.
- Keyboard Viewer in the input menu displays the live layout, handy for locating rarely used symbols like §.
- Boot Camp Windows installs need the United Kingdom Apple keyboard option selected separately inside Windows settings.
- Mascom technicians configure these settings during fitting, so the laptop types correctly from the moment you collect it.
Installation by Mascom Technicians
- The keyboard mounts inside the top case, so replacement requires near-total disassembly rather than a quick swap.
- Battery, logic board and most internal parts come out first, a job best left to experienced hands and proper tools.
- Your hard drive is disconnected but never wiped, so documents and photos remain intact through the whole repair.
- Every key, including £ and Eject, is tested on a running system before the bottom case goes back on.
- Book on WhatsApp in advance so a technician is free when you arrive at Kimathi Street.
Build Quality and Long-Term Care
- Original Apple manufacture means even keycap printing and a ribbon connector that seats firmly on the logic board.
- Brand-new stock avoids the worn springs and faded letters common on keyboards salvaged from scrapped laptops.
- Coastal humidity in Mombasa and Diani speeds up corrosion after spills, so dry any liquid off immediately.
- A dry microfibre cloth and a soft brush clear crumbs from between keys without pushing debris further inside.
- A thin silicone cover adds a spill barrier for owners who work beside a cup of tea or coffee.
- Covered by a 6-month Mascom warranty, so any manufacturing fault in a key or connector gets handled locally.
Package Contents
Each MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard is shipped flat in protective packaging that keeps the keycaps and cable from bending in transit:
- MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard in British layout, factory sealed
- Ribbon cable already attached for connection to the logic board
- Mascom International receipt with warranty card
No tools come in the pack. Fitting at our shop needs nothing from you beyond the MacBook itself.
Warranty
Mascom International covers the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard with a 6-month warranty against manufacturing defects, counted from your purchase date. Should a key stop registering or the connector fail under normal use within that period, return with your receipt to our Nairobi CBD service desk. We assess the part and process your claim in person at Kimathi Street.
Buying the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard from Mascom International
Mascom International keeps the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard in White at our Nairobi CBD location: Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street. Come in Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to compare the British layout against your MacBook before committing.
Three ways to order:
- Call/WhatsApp +254 708 852 521
- Email info@mascomintl.com
- Order through www.mascomintl.com
Pay-on-arrival delivery reaches every Kenyan county. Nairobi and its environs receive the MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard the same day. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nyeri, Meru, Machakos and all other major towns receive it within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. You open the parcel, check the layout, and pay only when it arrives.
The MacBook A1342 UK Keyboard comes with the 6-month Mascom warranty stated above.
Owners of British-market MacBooks across Kenya trust Mascom International for correctly matched layouts, original parts and direct after-sales help from our Nairobi CBD store.
