Kenya has officially launched Africa’s first fully electric cold-chain delivery network through a groundbreaking partnership between electric mobility company Roam and cold-chain innovator Keep It Cool (KIC). This revolutionary collaboration combines solar-powered refrigeration with clean electric delivery motorcycles, creating a completely sustainable food delivery system that addresses critical challenges in food security and climate action.
Historic Partnership Transforming Food Logistics
The collaboration between Roam, a 2022 Earthshot Prize finalist, and Keep It Cool, the 2024 Earthshot Prize winner, represents a pivotal moment for African innovation. The partnership has created the continent’s first fully electric cold-chain distribution network, integrating five Roam Air electric motorcycles into Keep It Cool’s established smart cold-chain system.
This system already moves an impressive 250,000 kilograms of fresh food weekly to over 4,000 small businesses and 40 supermarkets across Kenya’s major cities, including Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Mombasa. The Roam Air motorcycles, designed and manufactured in Kenya, can carry up to 240 kg of cargo and reduce running costs by up to 75% compared to traditional motorcycles, making electric vehicle adoption in Kenya both environmentally friendly and economically viable.
Addressing East Africa’s Food Crisis
East Africa faces a severe post-harvest crisis where nearly half of all fish and poultry is lost before reaching markets due to inadequate cold storage and transport infrastructure. Keep It Cool tackles this challenge through solar-powered cold rooms near fishing ports, hybrid delivery trucks, and a digital platform connecting producers directly to retailers with guaranteed prices.
The integration of Roam’s electric motorcycles completes what the companies call a “fully clean” delivery system, ensuring the entire supply chain operates on clean energy from harvest to sale.
Remarkable Impact Already Achieved
The partnership has demonstrated impressive results. Keep It Cool has helped over 5,600 fisherfolk increase their incomes by more than 15% through improved market access and reduced post-harvest losses. The system has achieved a 98% reduction in post-harvest losses for over 1.5 million kg of food and saves nearly 400 tonnes of fish annually that would otherwise end up in landfills.
Leading Companies Driving Change
Roam has established itself as a leader in African electric mobility, recently named Kenya’s fastest-growing company by the Financial Times. The company has expanded beyond Nairobi and launched the Roam Air Generation 2, developed with input from Kenyan riders. Their commitment to African solutions is evident in achievements like a 6,000-kilometer solar-powered journey from Nairobi to Stellenbosch.
Keep It Cool has been recognized globally for its innovative Markiti platform that integrates solar-powered cold storage, hybrid transport, and direct-to-market technology. Their tech-driven approach has achieved 98% food waste reduction, 51% emissions reduction, and increased incomes across underserved communities. The company is set to open Kenya’s largest solar-powered cold-chain hub this year, with 70-tonne capacity and plans to reach 1.6 million people by 2030.
Advanced Technology Integration
The Roam Air electric motorcycles offer significant advantages with a 200km range on dual battery, 90km/hr maximum speed, and 240kg payload capacity. They use standard 220-240V sockets with 600W AC chargers and produce zero tailpipe emissions.
Keep It Cool’s system leverages solar-powered refrigeration operating independently of the grid, IoT-enabled monitoring for real-time temperature tracking, digital marketplace connections, and guaranteed pricing for farmers and fishers.
Industry Leadership and Vision
“This partnership shows how clean transport can drive real impact, reducing emissions, cutting costs, and strengthening local supply chains. Together, we’re proving that the future of logistics in Africa is electric, efficient, and built at home,” said Elijah Gakomo, Sales Executive at Roam.
Abigail Gichigi, Operations Director at Keep It Cool, explained: “Each year, we’re saving nearly 400 tonnes of fish that would otherwise end up in landfills by investing in efficient cold storage and clean energy-powered cold logistics.”
Broader Context and Future Expansion
This partnership emerges as Kenya experiences significant growth in electric mobility adoption. The country has talked of launching green number plates for electric vehicles, launched comprehensive e-mobility policies, and seen substantial infrastructure investment. Major developments include ARC Ride receiving $5 million from British International Investment to deploy 5,000 electric motorbikes, Bolt and M-KOPA launching electric motorcycle programs, and nearly 3,000 electric vehicles already registered nationwide.
Both companies are positioned for rapid growth, with Roam expanding sales and charging infrastructure services beyond Nairobi. The partnership creates a scalable model replicable across other African markets, potentially transforming food security and reducing emissions continent-wide.
Conclusion
The launch of Africa’s first all-electric food chain represents more than technological advancement. It symbolizes a new approach to solving interconnected challenges of food security, climate change, and economic development through locally-developed innovation. By combining clean energy, smart logistics, and African-made technology, this partnership proves sustainable solutions can be both environmentally beneficial and economically viable, setting a new standard for sustainable development across the continent.
