Zipline, a company that designs, manufactures, and operates delivery drones is set to launch its operations in Kenya.
The company is within the next few weeks set to operationalize its hub located within Chemilil in Kisumu County.
This will be the first hub for Zipline in Kenya.
Zipline Kenya General Manager Winfred Njeri says once they launch their operations, they will be able to enhance the delivery of essential health and livestock products to rural areas.
Among the products the company is planning to deliver using its drone technology include drugs, blood as well as semen for the livestock sector.
“Drone technology is the technology for now. It serves the problems for now. It is another thing to make health care products available and is another thing to make the products accessible,” Njeri told journalists in Eldoret town.
“Zipline increases accessibility to these products by using drone technology,” she added.
Quick delivery
While it might take hours and even days for key health products to be delivered in areas with poor road networks, the Zipline GM notes that using drone technology, the same product can be delivered within an hour.
Through the Chemilil Zipline hub, at least 10 counties will be able to benefit from delivery drone services.
The company that started its operations in Rwanda in 2016 boasts of numerous successes in the health and agriculture sectors across several other African countries and abroad.
To date, it has 8 hubs in Ghana, four in Nigeria, and Cote d’Ivoire as well as active operations in Japan, and the United States.
Zipline MoUs in Kenya
So far, Zipline Kenya has signed an agreement with Kisumu County that will enable them to deliver health products using drones.
“We are looking at expanding in other different areas that will enable us to cover at least 80 per cent of Kenya. We plan to expand to other counties and set up 8 to 10 other hubs to ensure we reach as many people as possible,” said the Zipline Kenya boss.
But for the Chemilil hub, the company will be able to serve between 10 to 14 counties which include Kisumu, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Nyamira, Kisii, Vihiga, Migori and parts of Nakuru.
“We have state-of-the-art cold chain facilities that ensure the farmer and health facilities get a product at the right quality,” noted Njeri.
Under Zipline operations, they enter into partnerships with various government institutions which allow them to store their products and whenever an order is placed they are loaded onto their drones which deliver at the required place.
The drones are operated using the latest technology that feeds them with the location of delivery.
