What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is a special address your readers can use to access your website.
For example, truehost.co.ke is our domain name. Without it, it would be near impossible for you to access our website.
You can’t just give a domain such as example.com to your customers and then sit back and enjoy the profits. You need to own a domain name to successfully market your products or services.
A domain name is the legal property of the owner, and it can be registered with the .CO.KE, .COM, .NET, .ORG, .BIZ, or .INFO domains.
Before we look at the common types of domain names, you might be wondering if all of these, domain name registration in Kenya, is necessary.
Why do I need a domain name?
There are several benefits to having a domain name in Kenya, including the following:
If you want to promote your business online, you need a domain name. This is the first step in building an Internet presence. Once you have a domain name, you can build your website and start promoting your products and services.
If you are looking for investors, it’s essential to have a domain name so that potential investors can reach your site. If they can’t find it, they will look elsewhere.
A domain name gives people an idea of what your business is about. For example, if the company is selling computers and computer accessories online, the company should register a domain name such as www.computers4u.com instead of www.mybusinessonline-xyx.co.ke.
Think of a domain as the house address. Without the address, visitors will get lost.
So, if you’re trying to sell something online, you need a domain name so that potential customers can find you.
What are the different kinds of domain names?
Domain names can be divided into three categories of domain extensions:
- Generic top-level domains (gTLDs): These domains are the most common and are listed in the table below. They include .com, .net, .org, .biz and others. gTLDs can be registered by anyone in the world.
- Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs): These domains include the two-letter country codes for each country (for example, .ke for Kenya, .ca for Canadian domains, .uk for UK domains, .cn for Chinese domains, and so on).
- Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs): These are new domain names that are not part of the regular top-level domain system and are commonly sponsored by organizations. Examples include .mobi (for mobile devices), .name (for individuals) and .pro (for professionals). Others include .gov (used by the US government), .edu (used by post-secondary institutions.)
Which one should you choose?
Well, the rules are simple.
Before you register a domain name in Kenya, take a minute and think about your target audience.
Who do you want to attract to your website?
- If you want a global audience to read your website, go with a .COM domain.
- If you are targeting only Kenyans, your best bet is a .KE domain.
Now, how about the other domains?
Think about the purpose of your website.
If you are building a non-profit website, for example, you can go with a .ORG domain.
What do you need to register a domain in Kenya?
In order to register a domain name in Kenya, you will need to know the following:
- A list of names you would like to use for your domain
- Valid email address
- At least Ksh 800 in your MPESA
Recommended Readings:
How should I choose my domain name?
The best way to choose your domain name in Kenya is to do some research and decide on a keyword that people are likely to search for.
Remember, the perfect domain name is:
- Easy to remember
- Contains keywords
- Short. Avoid long domain names
- Doesn’t include numbers or hyphens
Recommended Readings:
How to register a domain in Kenya
Registering a domain in Kenya is a fast and easy process. You can register your domain name in Kenya with us by following these simple steps: –
Head over to https://truehost.co.ke/cloud//cart.php?a=add&domain=register to search for the domain.
Enter your domain name into our Domain Name Picker or type it into the search bar on our website
Remember to include the extension and then hit SEARCH.
Click on ‘Add to Cart’ next to your chosen domain name and then Checkout.
There are other domain extensions you can explore here.
Complete our secure online checkout process.
Receive an email confirming that we have received your order and money has been debited from your account
With Truehost.co.ke, you can register a .co.ke domain for 1 year at just Kshs 800.00 per year!
Recommended further readings:
- How To Get Cheap Domain in Kenya (2022 Update)
- Domain Registration Process: Name Registration and Hosting Kenya
- Cheap Domain Registrars in Kenya (Providers, Companies)
- How to update name servers for your domain from Truehost Client Area
How to change your domain name in Kenya?
You need to know that you cannot change a domain name. There’s no button somewhere where you can click edit next to your website name.
This means that once a domain has been registered, it stays that way until it expires (usually after 1 year.)
What do you do if you misspell or change your mind on a registered domain?
The best way to change your domain name in Kenya is to register a fresh domain.
If you want to retain the name, use a different extension. If you already have a .com, .net, or .org extension, you can just change it to .co.ke, or .mobi.
Should I register more than one domain?
It is advisable to register more than one domain name when you are starting a business in Kenya. This helps protect your brand from domain squatters. If you own the .com extension, for example, someone else could register the .org extension and direct traffic away from your site. By registering these extensions as well, you will be able to keep control of all of the traffic coming to your site.
Here are some of the ways you can use a second domain:
- Create a second website for your blog.
- Register a second website for your business
- Register a second website using a different TLD.
How much does a domain name cost in Kenya?
Here is a table showing complete domain prices in Kenya:
Domain Name | Price | Years Registered | Renewal | Transfer Price |
.co.ke | KES 799 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 0 |
.com | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 1000 |
.xyz | KES 99 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 1000 |
.ke | KES 2999 | 1 | KES 2999 | KES 0 |
.ac.ke | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 0 |
.sc.ke | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 0 |
.net | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 1000 |
.org | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 1000 |
.biz | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 1000 |
.or.ke | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 0 |
.africa | KES 1999 | 1 | KES 1999 | KES 1999 |
.go.ke | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 1000 |
.co.ug | KES 4420 | 1 | KES 4420 | KES 4420 |
.co.rw | KES 1020 | 1 | KES 1020 | KES 1020 |
.co.tz | KES 1920 | 1 | KES 1920 | KES 1920 |
.co | KES 2500 | 1 | KES 2500 | KES 2500 |
.me | KES 2500 | 1 | KES 2500 | KES 2500 |
.mobi | KES 1999 | 1 | KES 1999 | KES 1999 |
.info | KES 400 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 400 |
.tv | KES 3000 | 1 | KES 3000 | KES 3000 |
.me.ke | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 0 |
.pro | KES 1500 | 1 | KES 1500 | KES 1500 |
.us | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 1000 |
.in | KES 1300 | 1 | KES 1300 | KES 1300 |
.ca | KES 1500 | 1 | KES 1500 | KES 1500 |
.so | KES 3000 | 1 | – | – |
.academy | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.accountants | KES 8269 | 1 | KES 8269 | KES 8269 |
.actor | KES 3649 | 1 | KES 3649 | KES 3649 |
.agency | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.airforce | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.apartments | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.army | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.associates | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.attorney | KES 3649 | 1 | KES 3649 | KES 3649 |
.auction | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.band | KES 2494 | 1 | KES 2494 | KES 2494 |
.bar | KES 6274 | 1 | KES 6274 | KES 6274 |
.bargains | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.bid | KES 750 | 1 | KES 750 | KES 750 |
.bike | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.bingo | KES 4279 | 1 | KES 4279 | KES 4279 |
.black | KES 4069 | 1 | KES 4069 | KES 4069 |
.blue | KES 1700 | 1 | KES 1700 | KES 1700 |
.boutique | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.builders | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.business | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.cab | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.cafe | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.camera | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.capital | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.cards | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.care | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.careers | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.cash | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.casino | KES 12574 | 1 | KES 12574 | KES 12574 |
.catering | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.cc | KES 1549 | 1 | KES 1549 | KES 1549 |
.center | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.chat | KES 2809 | 1 | KES 2809 | KES 2809 |
.cheap | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.church | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.city | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.claims | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 0 | KES 4489 |
.cleaning | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.clinic | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.clothing | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.coach | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.college | KES 6064 | 1 | KES 6064 | KES 6064 |
.consulting | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.coffee | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.community | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.company | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.computer | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.condos | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.construction | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.contractors | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.cool | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.coupons | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.credit | KES 8269 | 1 | KES 8269 | KES 8269 |
.creditcard | KES 12574 | 1 | KES 12574 | KES 12574 |
.cricket | KES 700 | 1 | KES 700 | KES 700 |
.cruises | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.dance | KES 2494 | 1 | KES 2494 | KES 2494 |
.date | KES 750 | 1 | KES 750 | KES 750 |
.dating | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.deals | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.degree | KES 4174 | 1 | KES 4174 | KES 4174 |
.delivery | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.democrat | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.dental | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.dentist | KES 3649 | 1 | KES 3649 | KES 3649 |
.design | KES 4279 | 1 | KES 4279 | KES 4279 |
.diamonds | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.digital | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.direct | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.directory | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.discount | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.dog | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.domains | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.download | KES 750 | 1 | KES 750 | KES 750 |
.education | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 | |
.energy | KES 8269 | 1 | KES 8269 | KES 8269 |
.engineer | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.engineering | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.enterprises | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.equipment | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.estate | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.events | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.exchange | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.expert | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.exposed | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.express | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.fail | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.faith | KES 750 | 1 | KES 750 | KES 750 |
.family | KES 2494 | 1 | KES 2494 | KES 2494 |
.fans | KES 6169 | 1 | KES 6169 | KES 6169 |
.farm | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.feedback | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.finance | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.financial | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.fish | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.fitness | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.flights | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.florist | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.football | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.forsale | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.foundation | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.fund | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.furniture | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.futbol | KES 1549 | 1 | KES 1549 | KES 1549 |
.fyi | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.gallery | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.gifts | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.gives | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.glass | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.global | KES 6169 | 1 | KES 6169 | KES 6169 |
.gmbh | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.gold | KES 8269 | 1 | KES 8269 | KES 8269 |
.golf | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.graphics | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.gratis | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.green | KES 6169 | 1 | KES 6169 | KES 6169 |
.gripe | 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.store | KES 1000 | 1 | KES 1000 | KES 1000 |
.institute | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.insure | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.international | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.investments | KES 8269 | 1 | KES 8269 | KES 8269 |
.jewelry | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.kaufen | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.kim | KES 1700 | 1 | KES 1700 | KES 1700 |
.kitchen | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.la | KES 3439 | 1 | KES 3439 | KES 3439 |
.land | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.lawyer | KES 3649 | 1 | KES 3649 | KES 3649 |
.lease | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.legal | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.lgbt | KES 4069 | 1 | KES 4069 | KES 4069 |
.life | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.lighting | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.limited | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.limo | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.live | KES 2494 | 1 | KES 2494 | KES 2494 |
.loan | KES 750 | 1 | KES 750 | KES 750 |
.loans | KES 8269 | 1 | KES 8269 | KES 8269 |
.love | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.ltd | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.maison | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.management | KES 2179 | 1 | KES 2179 | KES 2179 |
.market | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.marketing | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.mba | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.media | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.memorial | KES 4489 | 1 | KES 4489 | KES 4489 |
.moda | KES 3019 | 1 | KES 3019 | KES 3019 |
.cd | KES 6320 | 1 | KES 6320 | KES 6320 |
.com.cd | KES 6320 | 1 | KES 6320 | KES 6320 |
.net.cd | KES 6320 | 1 | KES 6320 | KES 6320 |
.org.cd | KES 6320 | 1 | KES 6320 | KES 6320 |
.com.sd | KES 1120 | 1 | KES 1120 | KES 1120 |
.net.sd | KES 1120 | 1 | KES 1120 | KES 1120 |
.info.sd | KES 1120 | 1 | KES 1120 | KES 1120 |
.sd | KES 1520 | 1 | KES 1520 | KES 1520 |
.co.ci | KES 1820 | 1 | KES 1820 | KES 1820 |
.com.ci | KES 1920 | 1 | KES 1920 | KES 1920 |
.org.ci | KES 1920 | 1 | KES 1920 | KES 1920 |
.or.ci | KES 1820 | 1 | KES 1820 | KES 1820 |
.edu.ci | KES 1920 | 1 | KES 1920 | KES 1920 |
.net.ci | KES 1920 | 1 | KES 1920 | KES 1920 |
.int.ci | KES 1920 | 1 | KES 1920 | KES 1920 |