Birgen Godfrey Kipkoech
Our dedicated vehicle mechanics need to enhance their skills and resources to keep up with the evolving technology in the automotive industry. A good number of garages in Kenya lack the necessary equipment and technical expertise to address modern car issues effectively.
Over the weekend, my car experienced a loss of power, so I visited Kalembe, my mechanic at a garage in the industrial area. The new turbocharged XT models are something else, and a frequent issue with them is rod bearing failure. Kalembe, my guy, spent an entire hour diagnosing the problem and eventually proposed a solution.
Here are some of the solutions Kalembe suggested: flushing the cooler lines, replacing gaskets, seals, and cylinder head bolts, and, of course, addressing the connecting rod bearings.
Additionally, if the engine had sustained significant damage, costs could rise further. In such cases, it might be necessary to replace the pistons, connecting rods, timing chain, camshaft bearings, and crankshaft.
This work is clearly time-consuming and demands the expertise of a skilled professional to complete effectively. But who is Kalembe, he is a master, the chief himself with 15 years of experience, his academic background notwithstanding.
Oh, good grief! This situation left me with two choices: either buy a new engine or go with Kalembe’s recommendation. Either option would mean selling off my few cows to cover the costs.
But here’s the twist—my friend Kalembe strongly advised me to follow his solution. It turns out he also owns a Subaru parts dealership. Hapo ndio noma inatokea. It seems I was going to be exploited ‘like lack of importance’.
I recently saw a meme where someone humorously asked, “Nikifungua mortuary mtakufa?” It seems Kalembe and that meme guy might be on the same WhatsApp group. I really think the government should step in to protect car owners from situations like this. It’s hard to trust a doctor who recently opened a mortuary or a cemetery.