MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard is now in stock at Mascom International for KSh 6,500. It is an original Apple replacement part, brand new and sealed, made for the 13-inch MacBook Pro sold in 2016 and 2017 with two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a physical function-key row. The MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard replaces the butterfly-switch keyboard that Apple riveted into the aluminium top case. That is why our technicians fit it in the store rather than handing you a part and a screwdriver. Buy it or book fitting at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD.
Built for freelance designers, software developers and agency staff across Kenya, the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard solves the fault that followed this generation of MacBook everywhere: keys that stick, type a letter twice, or stop registering. One failed E key can wreck a client proposal, and a stuck spacebar turns a code review into guesswork. A fresh keyboard costs a small share of a new Mac. It also keeps your apps, licences and project folders exactly where they are. Developers in Westlands and Kilimani co-working spaces hold on to these machines because the physical function keys still suit their shortcuts.
Unlike other electronics retailers in Kenya that sell unbranded keyboards from online marketplaces, Mascom International stocks the original MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard and fits it in-house. Before you pay, our technicians check your model number and confirm the layout of the unit you are buying. After fitting, they test every key, including brightness and volume. Buyers throughout Kenya tell us the biggest relief is getting their own Mac back instead of starting over. Send a photo of your current keyboard on WhatsApp, then bring the laptop to Kimathi Street to have the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard fitted.
Common Questions About the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard
Will the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard fit my laptop, and how do I check?
It fits only the 13-inch MacBook Pro from late 2016 and 2017 with two Thunderbolt 3 ports and a row of physical function keys. Turn your Mac over and read the small print near the hinge, which should say Model A1708. If your laptop has a Touch Bar strip above the number keys, or four ports, it is a different model and this keyboard will not fit. Send a photo of that print to Mascom International on WhatsApp and we confirm compatibility before you travel to Kimathi Street.
Is the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard UK or US layout, and how do I tell?
The unit in this listing can come in either layout, so confirm the exact keyboard with Mascom International on WhatsApp before paying. Telling them apart takes seconds. A UK keyboard has a tall Enter key shaped like an upside-down L and a £ sign on the 3 key. A US keyboard has a wide, flat Enter key on a single row, with # on the 3 key and no £ anywhere. If you specifically want British layout, Mascom also stocks a dedicated UK version for these 2016 and 2017 machines.
Why do keys on a 2016 or 2017 MacBook stick, repeat or stop working?
Butterfly switches have extremely short travel, so a single grain of grit or a crumb can jam a key or make it fire twice. Compressed air sometimes clears the problem for a few days, then it returns because the switch underneath has worn out. Apple acknowledged the issue and ran a free keyboard service programme, but that programme no longer covers these older machines. Replacing the whole keyboard renews every switch at once, so sticky, repeating and dead keys clear together instead of one repair at a time.
Can I fit the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard myself at home?
Home fitting is not realistic for most owners, because Apple riveted this keyboard into the aluminium top case instead of screwing it in. A technician has to open the laptop, remove internal parts, cut away the many small rivets, then secure the new keyboard with fresh fasteners. The old keyboard's circuit backing often breaks apart on the way out, and careless force can bend the palm rest. Mascom International technicians at Kimathi Street have the tools and bench experience for this job, so we recommend fitting in-store.
Is a new keyboard cheaper than buying a new MacBook in Kenya?
Yes, by a wide margin: the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard costs KSh 6,500 at Mascom International, a small share of any new MacBook price in Kenya. You also keep your current machine, files and software setup. A new Mac means reinstalling design tools, signing back into client accounts and moving project archives, which eats billable days. The repair makes sense when the rest of your Mac is healthy, with a good battery, a clean screen and no liquid damage behind the keys.
Who should buy the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard, and who should skip it?
Buy it if your 2016 or 2017 Mac still handles your workload and only the keys let you down. Developers, writers and agency designers who rely on the physical Escape and function keys gain the most. Skip it if the same laptop also has a failing battery, a cracked screen or liquid damage, because stacking repairs on an ageing machine rarely pays off. In that case, a used HP EliteBook or Lenovo ThinkPad from the Mascom International laptop shelf is the smarter spend for daily client work.
How does an original keyboard compare with a full top case or an unbranded copy?
An original keyboard fixes the typing fault for less than a full top case, which bundles a new keyboard with a new aluminium palm rest. Unbranded copies cost less, but repair technicians report that function keys on some aftermarket units register presses without changing brightness or volume. Mascom International supplies the original Apple part and tests every key after fitting, so you never discover that problem at home. A full top case only makes sense when the aluminium shell itself is dented, cracked or badly scratched.
Will the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard hold up to Nairobi dust and daily commutes?
It will hold up well if you treat butterfly switches gently, because dust is their main enemy. Road dust along Thika Road and Mombasa Road finds its way into bags, so carry the Mac in a zipped, padded sleeve. Avoid eating over the keyboard, since crumbs jam shallow switches faster than anything else. Clean with short bursts of compressed air held at an angle every few weeks. Freelancers who work from cafes and matatus all week keep their keyboards working longest by following these habits.
How long does fitting the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard take, and are my files safe?
Keyboard replacement does not touch your stored files, though you should still back up to iCloud or an external drive before any repair. Book a fitting slot on WhatsApp first, and the technician confirms the turnaround when you hand over the laptop at Kimathi Street. Riveted keyboards need patient bench work, so plan around the quoted time rather than rushing it. Before handover, Mascom International rechecks every key, the trackpad click, charging through both Thunderbolt 3 ports, and the display.
Technical Specifications
Typing Mechanism and Core Function
- Butterfly-mechanism switches sit under every keycap, giving the firm, short-travel feel the original 2016 and 2017 machines shipped with.
- Full keyboard replacement renews every switch together, so sticky, doubled and dead keys clear in one repair rather than several.
- A physical Escape key and full function row stay in place, which developers using terminal and editor shortcuts depend on daily.
- Brightness, volume and playback keys sit along the top row and are tested after fitting to confirm each one responds.
- Being an original Apple part, key spacing and keycap shape match what your fingers already know from years of typing.
Compatibility and Model Identification
- Fits Model A1708, the 13-inch MacBook released in late 2016 and sold through 2017 with physical function keys.
- The model number is printed on the underside near the hinge, so one clear photo on WhatsApp confirms the match.
- This laptop has two Thunderbolt 3 ports on the left edge, which separates it from the four-port Touch Bar siblings.
- Touch Bar machines such as Model A1706, plus later 2018 and 2019 versions, use different keyboards and will not accept it.
- Apple order numbers in this family include MLL42 and MPXQ2, printed on the original box and the purchase receipt.
- The keyboard needs no driver or software install, so it works under every macOS version your laptop already runs.
Layout Identification Before You Order
- A UK layout carries a tall Enter key shaped like an upside-down L, spanning two rows on the right side.
- UK keycaps print the £ sign above the 3 key and place a § key at the far left of the number row.
- A US layout uses a wide Enter key on a single row and prints # above the 3 key instead.
- The US left Shift key runs long, while the UK board shortens it to make room for one extra key beside it.
- Mascom International confirms which layout this specific unit carries before you pay, using a clear photo shared on WhatsApp.
Build and Top-Case Integration
- Apple riveted this keyboard directly into the aluminium top case, rather than screwing it in place like older MacBook keyboards.
- Reaching the old keyboard means opening the laptop and removing internal parts first, which is careful and patient bench work.
- The old keyboard's circuit backing often breaks apart during removal, so technicians work slowly to protect the surrounding aluminium.
- Rivets rarely come out cleanly, so the new keyboard is secured with fresh fasteners matched to the existing holes.
- A careless pry can bend the aluminium palm rest, which is why Mascom recommends fitting by its own trained technicians.
Fitting Service at Kimathi Street
- Mascom technicians fit the keyboard in-store at Old Mutual Building, Kimathi Street, so the part never passes through unknown hands.
- Book a fitting slot on WhatsApp before you come, and the technician confirms turnaround time when you hand over the laptop.
- Every key is tested after fitting, including Escape, brightness and volume, before the Mac goes back into your bag.
- Trackpad clicks, charging through both ports and the display are rechecked, because the whole top case was opened up.
- Back up your files to iCloud or an external drive beforehand, the standard precaution before any laptop repair anywhere.
Care and Daily Durability
- A zipped, padded sleeve keeps road dust out of the shallow switches during matatu and boda boda trips across town.
- Eating over the keyboard is the fastest way to jam a butterfly key, so keep lunch away from the work area.
- Short bursts of compressed air held at an angle clear loose grit, the cleaning method Apple recommends for this design.
- A light touch is enough, because butterfly switches register a press with little travel and no need for extra force.
- An external keyboard at your desk cuts daily wear on the fitted keyboard and keeps it fresh for travel days.
Package Contents
The MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard comes as a bare replacement part, the way Apple service keyboards are normally supplied. Here is what you receive:
- One original Apple keyboard for the 13-inch MacBook Pro A1708 from 2016 and 2017
- A Mascom International warranty card for the keyboard
- In-store fitting by Mascom technicians when you book a slot at our Kimathi Street shop
Fasteners for securing the keyboard are handled by the technician during fitting, so you do not need to source anything separately.
Warranty
The MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard carries a 6-month Mascom International warranty against manufacturing defects. Mascom technicians fit the keyboard in-store at our Kimathi Street shop, and any claim is assessed at the same Nairobi CBD service desk. Physical damage and liquid spills are not manufacturing defects and fall outside this cover.
Buying the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard from Mascom International
Mascom International stocks the MacBook Pro A1708 Keyboard 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 with your laptop, and a technician checks the model number and layout before fitting begins.
Three ways to order:
- Call/WhatsApp +254 708 852 521
- Email info@mascomintl.com
- Order through www.mascomintl.com
Owners outside Nairobi who already work with a trusted Mac technician can order the part on its own. Pay-on-arrival delivery reaches every Kenyan county. Nairobi and its environs receive the keyboard the same day. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, 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 stated above.
Mascom International has built its reputation on accurate specifications, current Kenyan market pricing, and direct after-sales support from our Nairobi CBD store. Freelancers and developers from Kilimani to Kisumu bring their MacBooks to us because one honest diagnosis beats weeks of guessing at a faulty key.
