● Kenya’s Largest KeNIC Registrar

The Undisputed Leader in .KE Domain Registrations

For several consecutive years, Truehost Cloud has been the largest accredited registrar, managing over 26% of Kenya’s national registry. Experience instant KeNIC database activation, local high-speed DNS performance, and dedicated Nairobi-based support.

Explore Other Kenyan Extensions

.co.ke

Get for KSh 999 / 1st Year

.ke

Get for KSh 3,000 / 1st Year

.or.ke

Get for KSh 1,000 / 1st Year

.ac.ke

Get for KSh 199 / 1st Year

Instant Registry Activation Official KeNIC Registrar Panel Trusted by 75,000+ Brands

01 — The Registry

KeNIC Registry Profile & Role

What is KeNIC?

The Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC) is a non-profit, multi-stakeholder organization established in 2003. Formed as a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP), KeNIC was jointly founded by the local internet community—led by the Telecommunications Service Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK)—and the Government of Kenya through the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA). KeNIC is the sole custodian charged with managing and administering the .ke country-code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD).

History & Re-delegation

The .ke domain was first delegated in 1993 by internet pioneer Jon Postel to Dr. Shem Ochuodho (administrative contact) and Randy Bush (technical contact), who managed the namespace voluntarily. As Kenya’s digital landscape expanded, the need for a professional, community-governed entity became clear. Following community-wide consensus, ICANN officially re-delegated the .ke domain to KeNIC. The registry launched commercial, automated registry services in February 2003, introducing modern registrar-based distribution.

Mission & Vision

KeNIC’s central mission is “to provide accessible and reliable domain services that protect everyone’s online identity.” The organization acts as a neutral trustee of the nation’s digital identity, working towards a vision of promoting the uptake of the .ke domain for every business, organization, and individual in Kenya by 2030.

Top KeNIC Accredited Registrars

KeNIC operates under a Registry-Registrar-Registrant (3R) model, meaning it maintains the central database but does not sell domains directly to end-users. Instead, registrations must go through a licensed, accredited registrar. There are over 200 accredited registrars, but a few lead the market in volume and technical capability:

• 1 Truehost Cloud: The undisputed market leader, managing over 52% of all active .KE domains. Direct API registry panel integration and 24/7 local support.
• 2 Safaricom PLC: The national telecom operator, providing .KE domains and email services to major enterprise clients.
• 3 Kenya Web Experts: High-volume local provider focusing heavily on business website hosting and SME registrations.
• 4 HOSTAFRICA (SasaHost): One of the oldest hosting companies in Kenya, offering reliable web infrastructure and .KE extensions.
• 5 HostPinnacle: Popular registrar targeting budget hosting bundles and domain packages.

Truehost is accredited directly with the central KeNIC registry, ensuring no third-party reseller delays or markup costs.

02 — The Journey

Accreditation, Automation, and Trust

In 2016, we recognized that securing a local .KE domain was slow, expensive, and complex. We built direct API integrations into the KeNIC registry database, reducing activation times from 24 hours to under 60 seconds.

Today, Truehost manages more active .KE domains than any other registrar in East Africa. Our leadership is built on technical trust, local server investments, and transparent billing.

• Accredited Authority: Authorized to perform registry actions directly, eliminating third-party markups.
• Nairobi Infrastructure: Local DNS lookup servers situated in Nairobi bypass slow undersea routes.
• Registry Policy Leaders: We coordinate directly with KeNIC to enforce secure domain ownership rules.

Truehost Registry Leadership Share

Truehost Domains

Over 26.7% of Active .KE Namespaces

Other Registrars Share

Remaining Registry Namespace Share

Truehost is the largest registrar for .KE domains, offering unmatched system reliability and stability.

ccTLD Administrative Chain

KeNIC (Central Registry Operator) Governs Central Database & Root DNS

Truehost Cloud (Largest Accredited Registrar) Automates Retails, API, DNS Keys, & Billing

Registrant (Domain Owner / Brand) Your Official Website & Identity

03 — The Ecosystem

Registry and Registrar Administrative Model

The Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC) is a non-profit company formed in 2002 to manage the national country-code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) registry database.

As the registry operator, KeNIC maintains the core DNS databases for all .KE namespaces. However, KeNIC does not sell domain names directly to end-users.

Instead, they license accredited registrars. Truehost is licensed to facilitate registrations, renew licenses, and offer 24/7 technical support. Because we bypass middle-men, we provide instant domain provisioning at the lowest cost.

KeNIC Registry Compliance: All registrations follow KeNIC domain policies to protect trademark equity. Truehost simplifies validation by offering automated digital document uploads.

04 — Key Performance Metrics

Our Leadership in Numbers

Numbers tell the story of trust. Truehost stands as the cornerstone of Kenya’s digital infrastructure.

75,000+

Active Domains Managed

Powering the digital storefronts of businesses across East Africa.

14ms

DNS Lookup Latency

Nairobi DNS server nodes resolve requests almost instantaneously.

99.999%

Resolution Uptime

Redundant DNS network keeps websites active without failures.

05 — Domain Selection

The Complete .KE Namespace Suite

Compare requirements, active adoption rates, and pricing across all .KE domain extensions managed by KeNIC.

Scroll to view more

TLD Extension	Adoption Rate	Institutional Eligibility	Verification Rule	Registration Price
.co.ke	113,173 Domains	Commercial entities, brands, SMEs, online stores	None (Open registration)	KSh 999
.ke	8,131 Domains	General use, premium personal and business naming	None (Direct second level)	KSh 3,000
.or.ke	2,142 Domains	Accredited non-profits, NGOs, charities, trusts	Requires NGO certificate or trust deed upload	KSh 1,000
.ac.ke	1,486 Domains	Universities, tertiary colleges, polytechnics	Requires CUE Charter or Ministry certificate	KSh 199
.go.ke	923 Domains	Government ministries, state corporations, counties	Requires official signed letter on letterhead	KSh 1,000
.me.ke	198 Domains	Individuals, personal blogs, CVs, portfolio sites	None (Open registration)	KSh 1,200

06 — Value-Added Services

Do More with a .KE Domain

Leverage Kenya’s premier ccTLD infrastructure. Connect your domain with professional business tools to establish your brand presence online.

Email Hosting

From KSh 208 / mo

Secure business mail. Register professional email accounts (e.g., [email protected]) matching your official name.

Get Email Hosting

Google Workspace

From KSh 1,149 / mo

Official Google Workspace and Microsoft Office 365 licensing, configured and supported locally by Truehost engineers.

Get Google Workspace

VPS Hosting

From KSh 1,400 / mo

Deploy custom applications. Get dedicated virtual servers (VPS) with SSD storage and root access to host database systems or apps.

Get VPS Hosting

AI Website Builder

From KSh 467 / mo

Launch pages instantly. Build beautiful, compliant, and responsive commercial sites in minutes using AI-driven modules.

Get Website Builder

Secure Web Hosting

From KSh 2,500 / yr

Robust cloud server plans. Host business storefronts on secure servers with 99.9% uptime, SSD speed, and free SSL certificates.

Get Web Hosting

SSL Certificates

From KSh 1,999 / yr

Protect customer data. Install high-security SSL certificates to encrypt e-commerce transactions and boost search engine rankings.

Get SSL Certificate

07 — Domain Migration

Transfer Your .KE Domain to Truehost

Migrate your domain assets to Kenya’s leading accredited registrar. Our automated transfer process ensures zero website downtime.

A

Unlock & Get EPP Code

Access your current registrar dashboard. Disable the registrar transfer lock status and request your domain’s EPP authorization code.

B

Submit Transfer Request

Navigate to our domain transfer page. Enter your domain name and authorize it using your EPP code. Transfer payment automatically adds 1-year renewal extension.

C

Confirm Registry Link

Click the confirmation link inside the transfer verification email sent by the KeNIC registry. The domain moves automatically within 1 to 5 days.

Start Transfer Process

08 — Q&A Portal

KeNIC Registry Frequently Asked Questions

Get authoritative answers detailing KeNIC registry operations, accredited registrars, and .KE domain policies.

What is the difference between KeNIC and Truehost?

KeNIC (Kenya Network Information Centre) is the central regulatory registry operator that manages the core .KE national database under CAK guidelines. KeNIC does not sell domain names directly to the public.

Truehost Cloud is a licensed, accredited registrar. We build automated API integrations into KeNIC’s database to allow retail customers to register, renew, and manage .KE domains instantly.

Entity Role	KeNIC (The Registry)	Truehost Cloud (The Registrar)
Function	Maintains the national DNS zone and registry database	Registers, transfers, and manages retail domain zones
Audience	Accredited registrars only (B2B)	End-users, developers, and businesses (B2C)
Services	Registry infrastructure & policy enforcement	Domain registrations, DNS hosting, support, billing

Why should I choose Truehost as my .KE registrar?

Truehost Cloud is the largest accredited registrar for KeNIC in Kenya, managing over a quarter of the entire country-code zone. Benefits of choosing Truehost include:

• ✓Instant Activations: Automated API links propagate new registrations in under 60 seconds.
• ✓High-Speed Local DNS: Any query resolved via local Nairobi nodes averages under 14ms latency.
• ✓M-Pesa Integration: Automated STK push bills instantly, prompting renewals automatically.
• ✓Accredited Support: 24/7 technical team trained on KeNIC registry restoration protocols.

What are the requirements for registering restricted vs open .KE extensions?

Open extensions require no documentation or local presence. Restricted sub-extensions have eligibility requirements set by KeNIC:

Extension	Target Entity	Documentation Required	Activation Time
.co.ke / .ke	Open to anyone	None (open registry)	Instant (60 seconds)
.or.ke	Non-profits / NGOs	NGO Board Certificate or Society License	12–24 Hours
.ac.ke	Higher Learning / Colleges	CUE Charter or TVETA Registration License	12–24 Hours
.go.ke	Govt Ministries & Agencies	Official authorization letter signed by ICT Director	24–48 Hours

How do I transfer my .KE domain to Truehost, and will it cause downtime?

Migrating your domain to Truehost is completely safe and guarantees zero downtime for your website and email. The process is fully automated:

• 1Request the EPP authorization transfer code from your current registrar and verify the transfer lock status is disabled.
• 2Submit a transfer order on Truehost’s billing area. Transfer costs for `.co.ke` and includes 1 free year of renewal.
• 3Click the approval confirmation link sent to your administrative email address by the KeNIC registry.

Secure Your .KE Domain with Kenya’s Registry Leader

Join over 75,000 brands hosted on Kenya’s largest accredited KeNIC registrar panel. Claim your local identity, get high-speed DNS, and launch your brand today.

Register Your Domain Migrate to Truehost

Kenic – What is it?

Kenic is the central registry for dot ke (.ke) country code top level domain. It is mandated with the responsibility to manage and administer the dot ke cctld. Kenic operates in the 3R model of domain management, Registry/Registrars/Registrants. It does not directly register domain names but delegates the responsibility to it’s licensed registrars. Kenic is a not-for-profit organisation that is sustained through incomes generated from:

• Minimal domain name registration fees

• Few staff hence minimal operational costs

• Capacity building – maintaining an internship programme

The Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK), which facilitated the establishment of Kenic also provides support to the organisation.

History of Kenic

Kenic was established in 2003 after consultations with the local internet community. In that year, dot ke was delegated, for the second time, by the Internet Corporation for the Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to:

• Kenic: As the Administrative Point of Contact

• Kenic: As the Technical Point of Contact

Initially, in 1993, dot ke was delegated by Jon Postel, the Internet pioneer, to:

• Dr. Shem Ochuodho: Administrative Point of Contact

• Randy Bush: Technical Point of Contact

Both Dr. Ochuodho and Randy Bush (USA) acted in voluntary basis before the re-delegation in 2003. The domain name management and administration on voluntary basis became impractical. Hence, the need to re-delegate the dot ke management to an entity whose members are drawn from the public, private sector and civil society – Kenic.

Functions of Kenic

The major functions of Kenic are:

• Kenic is to be the trustee for the dot ke country code top level domain.

• Become the dot ke domain administrative and technical contact as was delegated in its founding in 2003

• Administer the dot ke ccTLD and its Second Level Domains

• Maintain and promote the operational stability and utility of the dot ke ccTLD

• Ensure a cost-effective administration of the dot ke ccTLD and its sub-domains

• Provide name service for all dot ke and ensure that the database is secure and stable

Its obligations to ICANN are:

• Notify the Internet Corporation of Names and Numbers (ICANN) of any change to the contact information about the dot ke ccTLD;

• Allow ICANN to access dot ke updated zone files and registration data.

• Continuously maintain a Kenic website at all times with all the registration information

• Meet all its financial obligations to ICANN

• Comply with all global ICANN Internet policies and help in their development.

Composition of Kenic

Members of the Kenic board are drawn from the government (Communication Commission of Kenya, CCK and Government IT Services, GITS), the private sector (Telecommunications Services Providers Association of Kenya, TESPOK, Domain-Name Registrar Association of Kenya, DRAKE and Kenya Internet Marketing Association, KIMA), the academia(Kenya Education Network, KENET), the civil society and Dr. Shem Ochuodho, the founding dot ke administrative contact.

Licensed registrars

As Kenic deploys the 3R Model of domain management, it is responsible for licensing registrars and facilitating them to register, renew and transfer domain names. It does this by providing a portal for these operations to be executed by it’s registrars. Kenic maintains a list of licensed registrars and their contact details in their website. It also updates the top registrar each month on it’s website. Truehost Cloud has been Kenics top registrar for 5 months in a row since April 2018.