The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard is now in stock at Mascom International for KSh 5,000, brand new and sealed, in the UK English layout. This original Lenovo part comes alone, with no laptop, made for the first two 14-inch ThinkPad E14 generations. The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard carries the red TrackPoint pointing stick, a white key backlight and full UK legends, including the pound sign and the tall Enter key. Collect it at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD, or order countrywide delivery.
Accountants, insurance agents, NGO field staff and university students chose the E14 because it paired ThinkPad toughness with an entry-level price. Several years on, many of those laptops in Upper Hill and Westlands offices show the same faults: a dead Space bar, a coffee spill that killed a row, or letters rubbed blank by daily use. The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard solves that problem for a fraction of what a replacement laptop costs. It keeps the UK symbol positions British-trained typists expect, so the @ sign and quote marks stay exactly where your fingers look for them.
Unlike other electronics retailers in Kenya that sell unbranded copies with mismatched legends, Mascom International supplies the original Lenovo part, so fit, backlight evenness and TrackPoint response match the factory keyboard. The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard also differs from our KSh 6,000 Gen 7 UK part, which serves the redesigned 16:10 chassis instead. Buyers throughout Kenya tell us the cheapest repair is the correct part on the first attempt. Send a photo of the label under your laptop on WhatsApp, and our team confirms the match before your Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard ships.
Common Questions About the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard
Which ThinkPad E14 models does this UK backlit keyboard fit?
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard fits the original E14 and the E14 Gen 2, including the AMD Ryzen version of Gen 2. It does not fit the E14 Gen 5 or Gen 7, which moved to a taller 16:10 chassis with a different keyboard. The E14 Gen 3 and Gen 4 share a similar outline, so owners of those models should WhatsApp a photo of the model label before ordering. Mascom International checks the label against the part for you at no charge.
How does this keyboard differ from the E14 Gen 7 UK keyboard Mascom sells?
The two keyboards are not interchangeable, even though both are UK-layout backlit ThinkPad parts. The E14 Gen 7 Backlit UK keyboard, priced at KSh 6,000, matches the newer 16:10 chassis Lenovo introduced with the E14 Gen 5. This KSh 5,000 part matches the older Gen 1 and Gen 2 machines, whose outline, mounting points and connectors follow the earlier design. Ordering the wrong one wastes a courier trip and a technician's hour, so confirm your generation first. Mascom International also stocks a US-layout E14 Gen 5 and Gen 7 keyboard.
Is this an original Lenovo keyboard or a copy?
It is an original Lenovo replacement keyboard, supplied as the bare part without a laptop. Original parts matter on a ThinkPad because the TrackPoint sensor, backlight and key legends are built to match the chassis exactly. Copies sold in some Nairobi shops tend to show legends that fade quickly, a spongy pointing stick or a backlight that glows unevenly from one side. Mascom International lets you inspect the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard at our Kimathi Street store, or on arrival before you pay.
How can I tell whether my E14 uses a UK or US layout?
Check the Enter key: a UK keyboard has a tall, inverted-L Enter spanning two rows, while a US board has a wide single-row bar. A UK layout also carries a short left Shift with an extra backslash key beside it, plus the pound sign on the 3 key. Most ThinkPads imported to Kenya from Britain arrive with UK keyboards, so ex-UK E14 owners usually need exactly this part. Swapping to a US board moves several symbols and reshapes Enter, which breaks years of muscle memory.
Will the backlight work if my E14 came without one?
The keys type normally in any E14 Gen 1 or Gen 2, but the backlight only works where the motherboard has a backlight connector. Lenovo sold the E14 in both backlit and non-backlit configurations. If your current keyboard already lights up when you press Fn and Space, the connector is present and this part lights the same way. If it never lit, send our team a photo of your laptop's specification sticker before ordering, and we will tell you plainly what to expect.
Does a backlit keyboard help during power cuts and late work in Kenya?
Yes, the backlight lets you keep working through a KPLC blackout on battery, when a dark room makes plain keys hard to read. Fn and Space switch the light between its brightness levels, and turning it off saves battery when only a few percent remain. Late filers racing KRA iTax deadlines and students revising in dim hostel rooms use it most. The light sits under the keycaps, so it shows the legends clearly without throwing glare onto the screen or into a sleeping roommate's eyes.
Can I install the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard myself?
Installation is a technician job, because this keyboard mounts inside the base rather than clipping in from the top. Replacement means removing the battery, display assembly, motherboard and every component covering the keyboard. A trained repair technician with the right screwdrivers and an anti-static mat handles it comfortably. If you attempt it yourself, photograph every cable step and never force a ribbon connector, since a cracked latch costs more than the keyboard. WhatsApp us for guidance before opening the laptop.
Who should buy this keyboard, and who should skip it?
Buy it if you own a UK-layout E14 Gen 1 or Gen 2 with several dead, sticky or worn keys, a drifting TrackPoint or a failed backlight. It suits owners who want their laptop working again for far less than a new machine costs. Skip it if your E14 is a Gen 5 or Gen 7; the E14 Gen 7 Backlit UK keyboard at KSh 6,000 is your match. Skip it too if only one keycap has popped off, because refitting a single cap costs less.
Is KSh 5,000 worth it compared with a USB keyboard?
Yes, for anyone who carries the laptop away from a desk. A USB keyboard costs less upfront, but it adds a cable, occupies a port and leaves the faulty built-in keys able to fire stray characters. On a crowded matatu or a client's coffee table, a separate keyboard is simply impractical. The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard restores the laptop as one portable unit, with the TrackPoint and backlight a USB board cannot replace.
Technical Specifications
UK English Layout and Key Legends
- UK QWERTY arrangement with a tall inverted-L Enter key, matching the layout ex-UK ThinkPads ship with from the factory.
- Pound sign sits on the 3 key, so sterling invoices and supplier quotes need no special shortcuts at all.
- The @ sign shares the apostrophe key and quote marks sit on 2, exactly where UK-trained typists reach.
- An extra key beside the short left Shift carries backslash and pipe, useful for file paths and commands.
- Home, End, Insert and Delete run along the top row, keeping document navigation one press away.
- PrtSc sits between the right Alt and Ctrl keys, so screenshots for reports take a single press.
Backlight System
- A white LED backlight sits under every keycap, lighting the legends evenly in dim rooms and lecture halls.
- Fn and Space toggle the light through its brightness levels, or switch it off fully when not needed.
- Switching the light off on battery saves charge when a long power cut runs past your expectations.
- The backlight draws power through a ribbon connection, so the motherboard needs the matching backlight connector.
- Light passes only through the printed characters, so the glow stays on the keys instead of the screen.
TrackPoint and Pointing Control
- The red TrackPoint stick between G, H and B moves the cursor without lifting hands from the keys.
- Spreadsheet users scroll long ledgers with thumbs resting near Space, saving repeated reaches to the touchpad.
- It works with the three TrackPoint buttons already built into your E14 touchpad, which stay in place.
- A fresh TrackPoint sensor cures cursor drift, a frequent fault on older and heavily used ThinkPad keyboards.
- Pointer speed adjusts in the Lenovo mouse settings, letting you set a slower, steadier feel for detailed work.
Compatibility and Fitment
- Fits the original Lenovo ThinkPad E14, whose underside label often reads simply ThinkPad E14 without a generation.
- Fits the ThinkPad E14 Gen 2, covering both the Intel Core and AMD Ryzen versions of that generation.
- Does not fit the E14 Gen 5 or Gen 7, whose taller 16:10 chassis uses a different keyboard entirely.
- Owners of an E14 Gen 3 or Gen 4 should WhatsApp the model label first so we can confirm fitment.
- Not a match for 15.6-inch E-series laptops or older 14-inch E-series designs, which use different outlines and connectors.
Build Quality and Daily Durability
- Black keycaps with crisp white legends match the matte black finish of the original E14 keyboard deck.
- Sculpted, smile-shaped ThinkPad keycaps guide fingertips to the centre of each key, cutting typos during fast entry.
- Scissor mechanisms under each key keep presses stable even when you strike the corner of a cap.
- A stiff backing plate reduces flex when you type hard, which keeps keystrokes consistent across the board.
- Ribbon cables arrive factory-attached, so there is no separate cable to source, solder or route by hand.
Installation and Connection
- Fitted from inside the base, which requires removing the battery, display assembly and motherboard before the swap.
- Disconnect the internal battery before starting, protecting the motherboard from short circuits throughout the job.
- Ribbon cables lock into flip-latch connectors; lift each latch fully before sliding the cable home.
- Test every key, the backlight and the TrackPoint before closing the base, saving a second full teardown.
- Windows recognises the keyboard without extra drivers; set the input language to UK English to match legends.
Package Contents
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard arrives as a bare replacement part, packed to protect its ribbon cables in transit:
- One original Lenovo UK English backlit keyboard with red TrackPoint
- Attached flat ribbon cables, ready to connect
- Protective packaging
No laptop, screws, tools or printed installation guide come in the pack, so plan for a technician with standard laptop tools.
Warranty
The Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty on manufacturing defects, such as dead keys, a failed backlight or a faulty TrackPoint present from the factory. Keep your receipt, then bring the keyboard or the laptop to our Nairobi CBD service desk to raise a claim.
Where to Buy This E14 Keyboard in Kenya
Mascom International stocks the Lenovo ThinkPad E14 Gen 1 and Gen 2 Backlit Keyboard in black at our Nairobi CBD location: Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street. Walk in Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to compare it against your old keyboard 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 keyboard the same day. Nakuru, Eldoret, Kisumu, Kakamega, Mombasa 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 inspect the part and pay only when it arrives.
The keyboard comes with the 6-month Mascom warranty detailed above.
Repair shops, IT officers and individual owners across Kenya rely on Mascom International for the correct ThinkPad part, honest fitment advice before purchase, and direct after-sales support from our Nairobi CBD store.
