Back in August 2021, I made what I thought was a simple purchase. A stainless steel body electric kettle.
Nothing fancy. Just something to boil water.
But the kettle had other plans.
It boiled water exactly once and then went completely dead.
Naturally, I returned it to the seller and got a replacement. Shock on me, the second kettle did the exact same thing.
One boil and out of service, again.
At the time, I chalked it up to bad luck, threw the thing in the store and moved on.
A Cheap Made-in-China Kettle
The kettle in question was a Nunix electric kettle, bought for Ksh 900 from a merchant in Tea Room, Nairobi.
Cheap, but still expected to work.
What I didn’t know then, but understand very clearly now, is that cheap China made home appliances often suffer from batch-wide component failures.
Sometimes, Chinese manufacturers install faulty internal parts in bulk, usually by mistake. Entire shipments end up affected.
Looking back, I strongly believe the 2021 shipment this kettle came from was one of those unlucky batches.
Fast Forward to August 2025, A Random Discovery
Last August, something interesting happened. I learned from YouTube that I could fix my buzzing Microwave by replacing the Mica Waveguide cover, and when I finally found a shop that was selling it, I also discovered they stocked cheap electric kettle switches.
Read: Microwave Waveguide Cover – Cheapest Sparking Fix (KES 300)
The switch had a simple construction and for only KSh 200, and a faulty kettle in the store, I was just too compelled to buy.
Place order: Electric Kettle Switch With Automatic Cut-off Protection (KES 200)
I also enjoy fixing things and there was really nothing much to lose trying to fix a dusty cheap kettle, long forgotten.
So I, fished it out and opened it up. Removed the old switch and installed the new one.
And, voila! The kettle came back to life.
Perfect boil. No drama. No hesitation.
The last thing needed was a quick wash.
After doing the math, the total investment for this kettle came to Ksh 1,100. As earlier mentioned, I had spent Ksh 900 on the kettle plus the new switch.
Five months on and the kettle doesn’t skip a beat and in hindsight, I’m thrilled I didn’t throw it away.
And yes, technically, I now have three kettles, because I later bought two more (which are working perfectly, by the way).
But the point here isn’t about how many kettles I own.
Sometimes It’s Just One Tiny Part
Most electric kettles that stop working after one or two boils are not “dead”.
In many cases:
- The kettle switch is faulty
- Everything else is perfectly fine
- A simple Ksh 200 part can restore the appliance completely
This is especially true for:
- Cheap China made kettles
- Stainless steel, glass and plastic kettles
- Generic / OEM models
Replacing the switch is not only affordable, but it’s also an easy DIY and much cheaper than buying a new kettle.
Always check the kettle switch first if your kettle;
- Boiled once and stopped
- Doesn’t click anymore
- Has power but won’t heat
- Randomly died after a short time
It’s one of the most common failure points, and one of the cheapest and easiest fixes.
Instant Device now stocks universal / OEM compatible electric kettle switches that work with most kettle models.
Why Replace Instead of Buying New?
- Save money
- Reduce electronic waste
- Extend appliance life
- Quick DIY or technician-friendly fix
Shop Location: Basement B1, Accra Trade Center, Accra Rd, Nairobi.
Call / WhatsApp: 0768 679 055.
Nationwide delivery available (Nairobi & upcountry).
Final Thought
That dusty kettle reminded me that sometimes, all an appliance needs is a tiny part, not a full replacement.
If I hadn’t tried that Ksh 200 switch, I would’ve written off a perfectly good kettle.
Don’t make the same mistake.
👉 Check the switch. Save the kettle. Save your money.
