Dj Vnyash
On Wednesday, November 6, Kenyan company Keep IT Cool triumphed on the global stage by winning the ‘Build a Waste-Free World’ category at the Earthshot Prize awards held in Cape Town, South Africa. The company emerged as one of five winners out of 15 finalists, earning a prize of £1 million (approximately Ksh 166.1 million) to scale up its innovative solutions.
The Earthshot Prize, launched by Prince William in 2020 under the Royal Foundation before becoming an independent organization, is a prestigious environmental initiative aimed at discovering and accelerating groundbreaking solutions to repair the planet. Its goal is to identify 50 impactful projects over ten years, promoting optimism and action in the fight against climate change.
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Keep IT Cool (KIC) addresses food spoilage by offering sustainable refrigeration systems tailored for small-scale farmers and fishers. Their solar-powered cold storage units, placed at fishing sites, drastically reduce waste and preserve fresh produce during transportation to markets. The company plans to expand its operations to other East African countries and explore storage solutions for poultry, fruits, and vegetables.
Speaking at the ceremony, KIC Founder and Managing Director Francis Nderitu expressed gratitude for the recognition. “This award is a major milestone for us. We aim to transform the food supply chain in East Africa by improving market access, reducing waste, and building climate resilience for small-scale farmers,” he said.
Prince William, during his address, emphasized the purpose of the prize, stating, “The Earthshot Prize champions innovators, creators, and leaders who are already changing the world. Our goal is to inspire the next generation and accelerate solutions to create the future we need.”
In addition to the monetary award, all 15 finalists will receive mentorship, resources, and technical support through the Earthshot Prize Fellowship Programme to help maximize their impact globally.
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