Participants in a recent programme experienced Kenya’s horticulture cold chain in full swing, from greenhouses to packhouses, cold rooms, and onward to refrigerated containers and reefers. The programme was hosted at Nini Flower Farm, which also demonstrated why it stands out as a frontrunner in sustainable and commercially competitive floriculture.
At Nini Farm, visitors saw first-hand how precision farming, state-of-the-art packhouses, and modern cold storage solutions can set the industry benchmark. As one of Kenya’s most progressive growers, Nini has long invested in systems that reduce post-harvest losses, ensure consistent quality, and align with the global shift toward greener supply chains.
The programme, a joint collaborative effort by Kenya Railways, Kenya Ports Authority, and TradeMark Africa (TMA) under the EU-funded BEEEP programme, emphasized a strategic modal shift from air freight to sea freight. This initiative builds on earlier developments during the historic visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to Kenya in March 2025. During their visit, a trial shipment marked a milestone in the development of the Cool Logistics Corridor: the first reefer container filled with Kenyan cut flowers was transported via the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) from the Naivasha Inland Container Depot to the port of Mombasa and then shipped by sea to the Port of Rotterdam.
A key outcome of the discussions was the unified commitment from exporters, government agencies, and growers to advance this transformation. The collaboration set a timeline for mid-September when stakeholders will reconvene to mark the flag-off of yet another reefer container shipment, symbolizing a tangible step toward greener and more cost-effective logistics. The adopted slogan, “Suswa Reli mpaka Meli” (From Suswa Rail to the Ship), captures the essence of this vision.
Beyond the event, this partnership aims to fortify the horticulture sector, with goals to increase export revenues, generate more jobs, and uplift livelihoods across the value chain. Through leveraging innovative cold chain logistics and multimodal transport, Kenya is positioning itself to remain competitive in global fresh produce markets while embracing sustainability and cost-efficiency as guiding principles.