NAIROBI – A Kenyan-designed and manufactured solar-powered medical refrigerator, the VacciBox, has been named a finalist for the prestigious 2026 Zayed Sustainability Prize, one of the world’s foremost awards for innovation. Developed by the Nairobi-based social enterprise Drop Access, the innovation is tackling one of the most persistent challenges in public health: maintaining the medical cold chain for vaccines, medicines, and blood supplies in remote and off-grid communities.

The nomination places the Kenyan enterprise in the global spotlight, recognizing its significant contribution to advancing equitable healthcare through clean energy solutions. For Kenya, this underscores a growing reputation as a hub for sustainable and impactful technological innovation. The Zayed Sustainability Prize, established by the UAE government, has positively impacted over 400 million people globally through its 128 winners over the past 17 years, according to the awarding organization.

Addressing a Critical Healthcare Gap

In Kenya, infrastructure and logistical challenges have historically hampered vaccine distribution, with official estimates indicating that three in ten children are not adequately vaccinated. A primary cause is the difficulty of maintaining the integrity of the cold chain—the temperature-controlled supply chain required to keep vaccines and other biologics potent. In rural areas with unreliable or non-existent electricity, healthcare facilities struggle to store temperature-sensitive medicines, which must be kept between +2°C and +8°C. This often leads to vaccine spoilage, missed immunisation opportunities, and preventable disease outbreaks.

The VacciBox was conceived to directly address this life-threatening gap. Co-founder and CEO of Drop Access, Norah Magero, a mechanical engineer, was personally motivated by her own experiences facing vaccination hurdles for her child after moving from Nairobi to a rural town. This firsthand challenge inspired the development of a solution tailored to the specific conditions faced by healthcare workers on the ground.

Homegrown Technology, Measurable Impact

The VacciBox is a 40 to 50-litre portable unit powered entirely by solar energy, equipped with a smart battery backup to ensure uninterrupted 24-hour cooling. Its versatile design allows it to be mounted on various forms of transport, including motorbikes, bicycles, or boats, making it ideal for “last-mile” delivery to the most isolated communities.

Beyond refrigeration, the unit integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technology, enabling healthcare workers and administrators to remotely monitor its temperature, battery status, and performance in real-time. This system sends alerts if conditions deviate from the optimal range, ensuring the viability of its contents and providing crucial data for supply chain management.

The impact of this innovation is already evident across Kenya. According to Drop Access, the introduction of VacciBox has helped triple vaccination rates in some rural health facilities by drastically reducing spoilage. To date, the technology has enabled the safe storage and transport of more than 2.5 million doses of vaccines, medicines, and blood bags, directly benefiting over one million people in counties such as Kajiado, Homabay, Bungoma, Turkana, and Makueni.

“In the face of climate change, VacciBox is promising to help reach the most underserved populations, where access to healthcare is often a critical challenge,” said Norah Magero in a statement released on Thursday, 6 November 2025.

A Legacy of Kenyan Innovation

This is not the first time VacciBox has received international acclaim. In June 2022, Norah Magero became the first Kenyan to win the Royal Academy of Engineering's Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, Africa's most prestigious engineering award. That award provided crucial support for the further development of the product.

Drop Access’s nomination for the Zayed Sustainability Prize continues a strong legacy of Kenyan success with the award. Past winners include M-KOPA, which won in 2015 for its off-grid solar financing model, and Bboxx, recognized for its work in expanding access to clean energy. The enterprise is now planning to scale its operations, with expansion into Tanzania, Zambia, and Côte d'Ivoire underway, offering a replicable model for strengthening primary healthcare systems across the continent.