Domain Name Extensions in Kenya: A Complete Guide to .KE

Understanding .KE Domain Extensions

Kenya's internet namespace is managed by KeNIC (Kenya Network Information Centre), the official ccTLD (country-code top-level domain) registry. KeNIC administers the .ke country domain and all its third-level extensions.

Here is a complete breakdown of every .KE extension and which type of organisation should use each one.

Second-Level Domains: .ke

A second-level .ke domain sits directly under the country code — like yourbrand.ke. These are the shortest, most premium Kenyan domains available.

Best for: Any person or business that wants the cleanest, most authoritative Kenyan domain.

Example: safaricom.ke, kcb.ke, johndoe.ke

Third-Level Domains

.co.ke — Commercial and E-Commerce

The most widely used Kenyan domain extension. Suitable for:

• E-commerce stores and retail businesses
• Service businesses (lawyers, accountants, consultants)
• Startups and SMEs
• Any for-profit commercial enterprise

.or.ke — Non-Profit Organisations

Reserved for not-for-profit organisations, NGOs, charities, foundations, and community-focused initiatives. If your organisation does not distribute profits to shareholders, .or.ke is your appropriate extension.

.ne.ke — Network Organisations

Designed for network-related organisations: internet service providers, networking companies, and technology infrastructure firms.

.go.ke — Government ⚠️ Requires Supporting Documents

Exclusively for government ministries, departments, and public institutions. Requires an Authority Letter from ICTA (Information and Communication Technology Authority) confirming the entity is a valid government institution.

.me.ke — Personal Websites

For individuals who want a personal website, portfolio, or blog. If you are a freelancer, content creator, or professional building a personal brand, .me.ke is your home.

.mobi.ke — Mobile-First Websites

For mobile-friendly websites and applications. Useful for USSD-integrated services and mobile-first digital products.

.info.ke — Information and Education

For informative or educational websites that provide public information resources.

.sc.ke — Schools ⚠️ Requires Supporting Documents

For lower and middle institutes of learning — kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools. Requires a Certificate of Registration from the Ministry of Education.

.ac.ke — Higher Education ⚠️ Requires Supporting Documents

For institutions of higher education: polytechnics, technical institutes, colleges, and universities. Requires one of: a Certificate of Registration from the relevant ministry, a College Charter, or the Act of Parliament establishing the institution.

KENIC Domain Naming Rules

When registering any .ke domain, these technical rules apply:

• Minimum length: 1 character
• Maximum length: 63 characters
• Allowed characters: [a-z 0-9] — lowercase letters and numbers only
• Hyphens: Allowed but cannot start or end the domain name
• Prohibited patterns: See KENIC's Appendix I for reserved and restricted names

Domains Requiring Supporting Documents

If you are registering .go.ke, .sc.ke, or .ac.ke, note that your domain will not be published until supporting documents are received and verified by KENIC Registry Services. Plan ahead — prepare your documents before initiating the registration.

Source: KENIC Second Level Domain Policy