The top-level domain (TLD) “.KE” is the internet country code for Kenya, which is in the eastern part of the continent of Africa. A top-level domain (TLD) is the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (” . “). The TLD is the letters immediately following the final dot in an Internet address.
The .KE TLD is managed by the Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC). This agency was established through a joint effort of organizations from the local internet community and the Kenyan government, with the mandate to manage and regulate the .KE domain and ensure its operation is in accordance with the global best practice of domain name administration.
There are a number of categories under which .KE domain names can be registered such as .co.ke for Companies, .or.ke for Not-for-Profit-Making Organisations or NGO’s, .ne.ke for Network Devices, .go.ke for Government Entities, .ac.ke for Institutions of Higher Learning, .sc.ke for Lower and Middle Institutes of Learning and .me.ke for Personal names, among others.
One prime example of a website using the .KE TLD is the Standard Media Group (www.standardmedia.co.ke), one of the largest media organizations in Kenya. Another example is Jumia Kenya (www.jumia.co.ke), a popular e-commerce platform in Kenya. Government entities in Kenya also use the .KE TLD, a great example being the government’s official website (www.mygov.go.ke).
Some examples of .KE domains also show explorations into innovative internet technologies. For example, the domain www.brightermonday.co.ke is a leading online job portal in Kenya. Furthermore, www.olx.co.ke, a popular online marketplace in Kenya, showcases the potential of e-commerce in the country.
Using a .KE domain name provides benefits such as improved search engine rankings for searches originating from Kenya, and it gives a stronger local presence and identity. It also helps to inform internet users that the website or the domain is related with or originates from Kenya.
Each country has its own top-level-domain and the .KE domain represents Kenya in the web space. Registering a .KE domain helps in brand protection and also enhances the brand’s Kenya connection.
Sources:
1. KENIC, “Domain Registration”. https://kenic.or.ke/services/domain-registration/
1. ICANN Wiki, “.ke”. https://icannwiki.org/.ke
1. IANA — .ke Domain Delegation Data, “Delegation Record for .KE”. https://www.iana.org/domains/root/db/ke.html
1. Standard Media, “Home”. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/
1. Jumia Kenya, “Online Shopping for Groceries, Cleaning Supplies, Home Essentials & more”. https://www.jumia.co.ke/
1. My Gov, “Kenya’s Government News Portal”. https://www.mygov.go.ke/
1. BrighterMonday, “Jobs in Kenya”. https://www.brightermonday.co.ke/
1. OLX Kenya, “OLX – Buy and Sell for free anywhere in Kenya with OLX online Classifieds”. https://www.olx.co.ke/
