KENIC, the Kenya Network Information Centre, is the official registry that manages all .ke domains. Understanding its role helps you know how Kenyan domains are registered, renewed, and transferred.
What KENIC Does
- Maintains the central database of all .ke domains, including .co.ke, .or.ke, and .ac.ke.
- Sets the policies for who can register each extension and how transfers work.
- Accredits registrars who sell .ke domains to the public.
You register a .ke domain through an accredited registrar such as NairoHost, not directly with KENIC. The registrar handles your order and communicates with the registry on your behalf.
The .ke Family
| Extension | Purpose | |-----------|---------| | .co.ke | Commercial and business use | | .or.ke | Non-profit organisations | | .ac.ke | Academic institutions | | .go.ke | Government | | .ke | Short premium option |
What This Means for You
- Some extensions have eligibility rules set by KENIC, such as .ac.ke for accredited institutions.
- Transfers and contact changes for .ke domains flow through KENIC, so timings can differ from .com.
- WHOIS records and privacy options for .ke follow KENIC policy.
Working with a Registrar
Because the registrar is your point of contact, you manage registration, renewals, and DNS through them. With NairoHost, that is your client area at my.nairohost.site, where you also set nameservers like ns1.nairohost.site and ns2.nairohost.site.
If you ever need to confirm a .ke domain's status or eligibility, your registrar can check with KENIC. For questions, contact NairoHost support through the /contact page or on WhatsApp at +254 796 358081.