Five Kenyan cold chain companies have received funding through the Kenya Cold Chain Accelerator (KCCA) to pilot solar-powered cooling solutions aimed at improving food security and reducing post-harvest losses for smallholder producers.
The funding was awarded by Energy Saving Trust, co-secretariat of Efficiency for Access, as part of a broader initiative to support sustainable cooling in Kenya’s agricultural sector. Agriculture contributes 31.5% of Kenya’s GDP and employs 38% of the population, but the sector suffers post-harvest losses of up to 40% due to limited cold chain infrastructure.
KCCA combines financial support with technical assistance, research, and workforce development to strengthen companies’ commercial readiness. It also facilitates collaboration between government, investors, and development partners to support the enabling environment for cold chain solutions.
The supported companies include Kuza Coolers, which will set up a solar-powered fish aggregation hub in Homa Bay; Agrotech Plus, which is expanding its Sun4Fresh modular cold rooms into Machakos and Meru counties; and Keep IT Cool, scaling solar cold storage in Lake Turkana for fishers and poultry farmers. Savanna Circuit will extend its SOLAR THRIVE initiative for dairy and fisheries using portable chillers and digital tools. Chill Zone will establish an integrated cold chain and processing hub for horticultural crops.
“Cold chain is essential for strengthening food systems and promoting climate resilience in Kenya,” said Christopher Beland, Technical Programme Manager at Energy Saving Trust. “What makes the KCCA unique is the tailored package of support for companies and ecosystem approach, which is positioned to drive systemic change.”
KCCA is managed by Energy Saving Trust in partnership with Energy 4 Impact, Mercy Corps, and GOGLA. It is funded by the UK government through the Transforming Energy Access platform and the IKEA Foundation.
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