Standard Electric Wheelchairs: What to Check Before Buying

By Wheelchairs Kenya · Updated June 2026 · Nairobi, Kenya

The checklist that prevents expensive mistakes

An electric wheelchair is the most expensive mobility purchase most families make, KSh 85,000 for a standard model. Most regrets we hear come from four avoidable mistakes: a chair too wide for the home’s doors, a battery that cannot cover the user’s real daily distance, no local source for replacement batteries, and no warranty when a controller fails in month three. All four are checkable before you pay.

Battery and range

Range claims are measured on flat ground with a light user. In practice, plan for 60 to 70% of the stated range. Map the user’s actual day: house to gate, gate to shop, around the compound. Most home users need far less than the battery offers, but users commuting to work or school should size up. Charge habits decide battery life: charge nightly, never store the battery flat, and keep it out of direct heat. Ask the supplier directly: “When this battery dies in two years, can I buy a replacement from you, in Kenya, and at what price?” If the answer is vague, walk away.

Fit: user and house

• Weight capacity: chair rating should exceed the user’s weight by at least 20 kg for safety and motor life
• Seat width: measure the user’s hips seated, add ~5 cm, see the sizing guide
• Overall width: measure your narrowest doorway and the toilet door; the chair must clear it with fingers on the rims
• Joystick side: mounted for the stronger, more coordinated hand; can be swapped for left-handed users

Motor, controller and brakes

Test the chair on a slope if you can. A motor that strains on a ramp will strain every day. Electromagnetic brakes should hold the chair still on that slope the moment the joystick is released. Check the controller has adjustable speed settings; new users and elderly users benefit from a slow first setting. Freewheel levers (to push the chair manually when the power is off) are essential for caregivers. Confirm they exist and try them yourself.

After-sales is part of the product

Electric wheelchairs need a service relationship, not just a sale. Wheelchairs Kenya includes a 12-month warranty on frame and mechanics, free fitting at your home with caregiver training, and lifetime access to spares and adjustments from our Nairobi CBD showroom. Same-day delivery in Nairobi for orders by 2pm; delivery countrywide to Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, Nakuru, Thika and beyond. Routine care is covered in our maintenance guide.