PRESS RELEASE : Prince William Unveils Kenya’s Roam And Mukuru Clean Stoves As Finalists For Earthshot Prize [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 4 November 2022.

• British High Commissioner Jane Marriott praises Roam and Mukuru Clean Stoves for their innovative solutions to help repair and regenerate the planet – another example of Kenya’s pioneering commitment to green, clean energy.
• The UK-Kenya Climate partnership has driven investment in clean air projects, including helping Roam secure £6.6m worth of investment.
• The Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the awards in Boston on December 2 to honour the Finalists and celebrate the five 2022 Earthshot Prize Winners.

November 4, 2022 — Today, Prince William and The Earthshot Prize revealed that Roam and Mukuru Clean Stoves, both Kenyan companies, have been selected as Finalists for the second Earthshot Prize. Together, the Finalists are an accomplished group of entrepreneurs and innovators spearheading fifteen groundbreaking solutions to the biggest environmental challenges our planet faces.

The fifteen Finalists will be in the running to receive a £1 million award at the second-annual Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. The Prize takes inspiration from President John F. Kennedy’s ‘Moonshot,’ which united millions of people around an organising goal to put man on the moon and catalysed the development of new technology in the 1960s.

Prince William said:

The innovators, leaders, and visionaries that make up our 2022 Earthshot Finalists prove there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future of our planet. They are directing their time, energy, and talent towards bold solutions with the power to not only solve our planet’s greatest environmental challenges, but to create healthier, more prosperous, and more sustainable communities for generations to come.

I am so excited to celebrate these fifteen Finalists and see the five Winners of The Earthshot Prize announced in Boston – the hometown of President John F. Kennedy, who shared The Earthshot Prize’s belief that seemingly impossible goals are within reach if we only harness the limitless power of innovation, human ingenuity, and urgent optimism.

The UK-Kenya Climate partnership has driven investment in clean air projects, including helping Roam secure £6.6m worth of investment to expand their operation.

British High Commissioner to Kenya, Jane Marriott, said:

As Kenya continues to be a pioneer of green, clean energy, it comes as no surprise that Prince William and The Earthshot Prize are honouring Roam and Mukuru Clean Stoves – two of Kenya’s most innovative companies – bringing the total to three Earthshot finalists in two years. Both are an example of Kenya’s renewed commitment to clean air, and inspiring positive climate action. Both organisations empower women to lead – and make a living by making a difference. The UK is proud to have supported Roam to secure investment to grow their innovative operation. We look forward to taking the UK-Kenya Climate Partnership further at COP27 in Egypt.

Mukuru Clean Stoves is a female-led start-up providing cleaner-burning stoves to women in Kenya to reduce unhealthy indoor pollution and provide a safer way to cook. Today, 200,000 people in Kenya use Mukuru Clean Stoves, saving $10 million in fuel costs, saving lives, and saving time. Mukuru is empowering women to make a living by making a difference.

Charlot Magayi, founder of Mukuru Clean Stoves, said:

Mukuru Clean Stoves began as a solution to a problem that I had felt personally in my own life. Today, we have an opportunity to transform the lives of millions, with cheaper, safer and more sustainable cookstoves and fuels. It is a privilege to be recognised by The Earthshot Prize as we embark on the next step in our journey.

Roam is an organisation building lower emission vehicles, making clean transportation accessible and affordable for urban cities on the African continent. . The company builds motorcycles and buses tailored to the market with affordability and reliability at the forefront. 40% of Roam’s employees are female, and estimate that by switching from petrol to electricity, drivers can cut running costs by 75%.

Filip Lovstrom, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Roam, said:

In Kenya, motorcycle taxis so called Boda Boda’s are the best way to get around and many rely on them for a living. However, they are also among the highest CO2 emitting vehicles on the market. The company builds motorcycles and buses tailored to the market with affordability and reliability at the forefront. We want to help the environment, and drivers’ pockets. We are honoured to be recognised alongside so many other brilliant solutions.

This is Kenya’s third Earthshot finalist in two years. In 2021, Kenyan company Sanergy was a finalist in the ‘Build a Waste-Free World’ category. They were already the largest waste recycling factory in Eastern Central Africa and they now serve three more cities in Kenya. A successful new investment round will allow international expansion. The Earthshot Prize Global Alliance Members, Deloitte and Arup have supported with training, advice and project design.