.ke Domain: Kenya ccTLD Guide

Updated October 2026

.ke is the country-code top-level domain for Kenya.

Overview

Extension.ke

Country or territory

Kenya

RegionAfrica

RegistryKenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC)

Who can registerOpen worldwide

TypeNational country code

Used by Kenyan businesses, schools, government bodies and individuals, mostly through co.ke, and increasingly through direct .ke names.

KeNIC is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee that operates Kenya's ccTLD. A registrar reference says KeNIC took control of .ke in 2002, when it had fewer than 1,000 registrations, and ICANN lists a ccTLD agreement for .ke dated 18 November 2002. Registrations are made through accredited registrars, who must have an office in Kenya.

Most registrations sit under third-level labels: co.ke for companies, or.ke for not-for-profits, ne.ke for network providers, me.ke for personal names, mobi.ke, info.ke, go.ke for government, ac.ke for higher education and sc.ke for schools. KeNIC states that go.ke, ac.ke and sc.ke require documents, such as a Government IT Services authority letter or a ministry certificate.

Second-level names such as name.ke were announced in 2017, with rollout reported to start from 23 July 2017. Registrations run for up to five years according to KeNIC's FAQ. One registrar says internationalised (non-ASCII) characters are not supported for co.ke.

Disputes administered by KeNIC are governed by its Dispute Resolution Rules. The complainant identifies the trademark relied on, the respondent has 20 days to reply, and a single-member or three-member panel decides, generally within 30 days of appointment. English is the default language, and decisions are published online. Panels can find a complaint was brought in bad faith.

Who can register

Names are registered through KeNIC-accredited registrars. Registrars describe no strict eligibility rules for co.ke and say a Kenyan presence is preferred but not mandatory; go.ke, ac.ke and sc.ke require supporting documents from the relevant authority.

Second-level endings: Mostly under .co.ke, .or.ke, .ac.ke, .go.ke, .me.ke.

Rules and prices change. This summary is general information, not legal advice: confirm the current policy with the registry before you buy. The registry's website is kenic.or.ke. The official record for .ke is in the IANA root zone database.

Before you buy a .ke name

Check the renewal price as well as the first-year price. Our cost calculator shows what a name really costs over time.
Make sure you meet the eligibility rules yourself, without relying on a trustee if you can avoid it.
Search for trademarks and for the same name in .com.
Say the name out loud: will people type it correctly?

Weighing up a specific .ke name? TLD.is gives an AI appraisal that explains a name's strengths and weaknesses.