Roam and Keep It Cool Launch Africa’s First Fully Electric Cold-Chain Network
In a landmark initiative for climate resilience and sustainable food systems, Earthshot Prize 2022 Finalist Roam and Earthshot Prize 2024 winners Keep It Cool (KIC) have teamed up to unveil Africa’s first fully electric cold-chain distribution network. The partnership merges solar-powered refrigeration with locally manufactured electric delivery motorcycles, setting a new standard for clean, efficient food logistics on the continent.
The collaboration kicks off with the integration of five Roam Air electric motorcycles into Keep It Cool’s existing cold-chain ecosystem. KIC already distributes more than 250,000 kilograms of fresh produce weekly to over 4,000 small businesses and 40 supermarkets in Nairobi, Kisumu, Nakuru, and Mombasa. Designed and built in Kenya, the Roam Air can carry up to 240 kg and reduces operational costs by as much as 75% compared to traditional fuel-powered bikes, offering an affordable and sustainable alternative for last-mile delivery.
The initiative addresses one of East Africa’s most pressing issues: post-harvest losses. Nearly half of fish and poultry in the region spoils before reaching markets due to inadequate cold storage and transportation. KIC has been tackling this crisis using solar-powered cold rooms near fishing hubs, hybrid delivery trucks, and a digital platform that connects producers directly to retailers, eliminating middlemen and guaranteeing better prices.
To date, Keep It Cool has supported over 5,600 fisherfolk in increasing their incomes by more than 15% and slashed post-harvest losses by 98% for over 1.5 million kilograms of food. With Roam’s electric motorcycles now handling the final stretch of delivery, the system is fully clean from harvest to sale.
Both companies are on rapid growth trajectories. Roam, recently named Kenya’s fastest-growing company by the Financial Times, has expanded its infrastructure beyond Nairobi and launched the second-generation Roam Air—developed with input from Kenyan riders. Meanwhile, KIC is preparing to open the country’s largest solar-powered cold-chain hub, a 70-tonne facility expected to serve 1.6 million people by 2030.
“This partnership shows how clean transport can drive real impact—reducing emissions, cutting costs, and strengthening local supply chains,” said Elijah Gakomo, Sales Executive at Roam. “We’re proving that the future of logistics in Africa is electric, efficient, and built right here at home.”
Abigail Gichigi, Operations Director at Keep It Cool, added: “Each year, we’re saving nearly 400 tonnes of fish that would otherwise be lost—thanks to efficient, clean-powered logistics. Our partnership with Roam allows us to accelerate this mission, delivering measurable benefits to both people and the planet.”
Jason Knauf, CEO of The Earthshot Prize, praised the collaboration: “This is a shining example of urgent optimism in action. Roam and Keep It Cool are proving that cleaner air, healthier lives, and greater prosperity are all within reach. It’s exactly the kind of bold innovation The Earthshot Prize was created to support.”
By combining African innovation with sustainable energy and logistics, the Roam–KIC partnership is not just transforming cold-chain logistics—it’s setting a blueprint for climate-smart development across the continent.
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