NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenyan enterprise Keep It Cool has just scored a major win, taking home the coveted 2024 Earthshot Prize for its groundbreaking efforts to combat food spoilage and uplift communities.
As one of only five global winners, the company is now set to receive about Sh166 million to amplify its sustainability-focused initiatives across East Africa.
Founded by Prince William, the Earthshot Prize spotlights innovative projects that address the planet’s most pressing environmental issues.
Selected from over 2,500 nominations spanning 139 countries, Keep It Cool received the accolade in the “Build a Waste-Free World” category—a testament to Kenya’s rising profile in global sustainability.
The award ceremony, held in Cape Town, South Africa, brought attention to the transformative power of sustainable solutions to create a cleaner, greener future.
Keep It Cool’s founder and Managing Director, Francis Nderitu, expressed immense gratitude for the honor, calling it a “milestone” for the enterprise.
“We are on a mission to revolutionize the food supply chain in East Africa,” Nderitu remarked, “and will continue to enhance market access, reduce waste, and build climate resilience for small-scale fish and poultry farmers throughout the region.”
Keep It Cool has developed a unique model, providing smallholder farmers and fishers with sustainable refrigeration and streamlined distribution systems.
This approach significantly extends the shelf life of their produce, curbing spoilage and stabilizing income.
By reducing waste and boosting earnings, the company is giving local communities a path to economic stability and food security—a scalable model that aligns perfectly with Earthshot’s vision of a waste-free world.
The impact is already visible. By empowering farmers with these tools, Keep It Cool is not only preserving food but also transforming the livelihoods of countless families across the region.
Prince William, founder and president of The Earthshot Prize, shared the motivation behind the award, saying it exists to “champion the game changers, inventors, makers, creatives, and leaders” who are reshaping the world.
“I believe our world can be rich in possibility, in hope, and optimism,” he added. The Earthshot Prize, he explained, aims to help these innovators speed their ideas to scale, inspiring the next generation to forge a sustainable future.
Alongside Keep It Cool, four other Earthshot winners from around the world were awarded £1 million(about Sh166 million) each to further their impactful projects.
With a strong commitment to environmental stewardship, Keep It Cool is paving the way for lasting change—right from the heart of East Africa.
