By Jameson Mutua
The Government of Türkiye has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable development and food security in Kenya with the launch of a solar-powered cold storage facility at Kitengela Market in Kajiado County.
Speaking during the launch, Turkish Ambassador to Kenya Subutay Yüksel described the project as a major milestone in reducing food loss, strengthening livelihoods and promoting environmental sustainability in local markets.
The Solar-Powered Cold Storage Rooms Project was initiated by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) Nairobi under the Zero Waste Cold Storage initiative. It was implemented in partnership with Food Banking Kenya and the Kajiado County Government.
Ambassador Yüksel noted that thousands of small-scale traders across Kenya operate in open-air markets and form the backbone of local food supply chains. However, limited access to cold storage facilities exposes them to heavy post-harvest losses, with perishable goods often spoiling within hours.
“Unsold produce is frequently discarded, sold at extremely low prices or left to spoil. This not only results in serious food waste but also directly reduces traders’ incomes and undermines overall market productivity,” he said.
Kitengela Market, one of the busiest markets in Kajiado County, handles significant volumes of fruits and vegetables supplied by smallholder farmers and wholesale traders. The newly installed facility includes two 20-foot solar-powered cold room containers designed to preserve fresh produce for extended periods.
The cold rooms operate primarily on solar energy, providing an environmentally friendly and sustainable cooling solution. They are also connected to the national grid to ensure uninterrupted service when required, making the system both reliable and self-sufficient.
The ambassador said the project aims to reduce food losses, improve traders’ incomes and resilience, enhance food security, and offer a scalable model that can be replicated in community markets across Kenya.
The initiative draws inspiration from the globally recognized Zero Waste Programme championed by Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan, which promotes responsible resource use, waste reduction and environmental sustainability.
Ambassador Yüksel emphasized that food waste significantly contributes to environmental degradation, climate change and economic loss. By preventing avoidable food waste at the market level, the Kitengela project supports climate action, conserves natural resources such as water and land, and advances sustainable development.
He added that the initiative reflects the growing partnership between Türkiye and Kenya, anchored on mutual respect and cooperation in environmental protection, food security and sustainable development.
Ambassador Yüksel thanked all stakeholders for their close collaboration with TİKA in delivering the project, expressing confidence that it will serve as a model for sustainable market infrastructure across Kenya and beyond.
