Kenya has taken a bold leap in transforming its fresh produce supply chain with the unveiling of modern Reefer Wagons by Kenya Railways, designed to transport perishable goods efficiently from the country’s hinterlands to the Port of Mombasa—paving the way for sustainable sea freight exports to Europe.
The state-of-the-art wagons were officially launched in a momentous event graced by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, symbolizing a deeper collaboration between Kenya and the Netherlands in trade, agriculture, and sustainable logistics.
Kenya Railways (KR) announced that the wagons are part of a broader Cool Logistics Corridor initiative—a government-led effort aimed at enhancing cold chain logistics for horticultural exports. Equipped with GPS tracking, IoT-enabled monitoring, energy-efficient solar-assisted power systems, and advanced refrigeration technology, the reefer wagons promise optimal temperature-controlled transportation for high-value perishables such as flowers, fruits, and vegetables.
“Fresh produce can now be collected from various Fresh Produce Consolidation Centres and transported via rail to the Port of Mombasa for onward shipping to Europe,” said KR. This initiative will not only improve delivery times and reduce post-harvest losses but also cut logistics costs and lower the carbon footprint traditionally associated with road and air freight.
As part of this milestone, the first-ever trial shipment of flowers via rail and sea freight was successfully conducted on Monday, March 17, from the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD) to the Port of Mombasa, bound for Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The container, capable of holding over 320,000 roses, was transported in a reefer container supplied through a partnership involving Nini (a Kenyan flower grower), Dutch Flower Group, Maersk, Kenya Ports Authority, and KR.
Supported by Invest International and the Flying Swans consortium, this trial shipment is a significant outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Kenyan and Dutch governments. It also aligns with Kenya’s broader commitment to green logistics, climate-smart agriculture, and boosting farmer incomes.
“The Cool Logistics Corridor will enhance Kenya’s horticultural export capacity and shift part of the perishable cargo from air freight to sea freight, reducing carbon emissions by up to 90%,” said Jan van Dam, CEO of Dutch Flower Group.
Located strategically near major horticultural production zones, the Naivasha ICD is emerging as a vital logistics hub. It offers reefer plug-in points and cargo clearance services, eliminating the need to transport containers by truck to Mombasa. Additionally, the upcoming Naivasha Consolidation Centre, developed with Dutch technical support, is poised to streamline cargo aggregation, further strengthening the cold chain ecosystem.
“This project creates a win-win situation,” said Hans Docter, CEO of Invest International. “It will green supply chains, create employment, raise farmer incomes, and foster Dutch business participation in sustainable trade.”
With over 50% of Kenya’s cut flowers and significant volumes of fruits and vegetables exported to the Netherlands, the collaboration is not only enhancing bilateral trade but also repositioning Kenya as a leader in sustainable agro-logistics across Africa.
“As the main port for fresh produce imports into Europe, the Port of Rotterdam stands ready to support this transformative journey,” added Danny Levenswaard, Director at the Port of Rotterdam Authority. As Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway evolves into a key artery for cold chain cargo, the Cool Logistics Corridor marks a new era—where innovation, sustainability, and global partnerships drive agricultural prosperity from the farm to the European marketplace.
