Summary

The SESA project developed a solar- powered cold room in Mbita market, Homabay County, Kenya, to reduce food waste and improve vendor income. Operated by WeTu and powered by SelfChill technology, the cold room addresses the lack of cooling infrastructure and poor handling practices. It preserves produce quality, reduces spoilage, and enhances food security.

The cold room is powered by SelfChill’s innovative DC solar cooling technology using natural refrigerants and optional thermal storage. The initiative targets retail market vendors dealing in perishable produce i.e., vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, sukuma wiki, and avocados, which suffer significant spoilage due to lack of cooling infrastructure.

The business model is based on a pay- per-crate-per-day pricing structure, tailored to produce type. The pilot has shown promising uptake and willingness to pay, with ongoing efforts to optimize utilization and expand customer segments.