How to register a .co.ke domain in Kenya (and what it really costs)
KENIC, accredited registrars, .ke vs .co.ke, renewal prices and how to keep control of your own domain.
On this page
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Kenya's country domain is run by KENIC, the Kenya Network Information Centre. You do not buy from KENIC directly — you buy through an accredited registrar, the same way you would buy a .com through Namecheap.
Which .ke extension should you pick?
| Extension | Intended for | Typical price/yr |
|---|---|---|
| .co.ke | Companies and commercial sites | KES 950 – 1,500 |
| .ke | Short premium version of the above | KES 2,000 – 4,000 |
| .or.ke | NGOs, churches, associations | KES 950 – 1,500 |
| .ac.ke | Accredited academic institutions | KES 1,500+ |
| .go.ke | Government only | Restricted |
| .me.ke | Personal sites and portfolios | KES 950 – 1,500 |
For nearly every business and blog, .co.ke is the right answer. It is the extension Kenyans recognise and it is the cheapest to renew.
Step by step
- 1Search your name at an accredited registrar to confirm it is free.
- 2Add it to your cart with a one or two-year term — skip the extras they upsell.
- 3Pay with M-Pesa or card. Activation is usually instant.
- 4Set the WHOIS contact details to YOUR name and YOUR email, never your developer's.
- 5Point the DNS at your host, or leave it at the registrar until your site is ready.
- 6Turn on auto-renew, and put a calendar reminder a month before expiry anyway.
Where to register
DoWebsites is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend or the order of our picks. Read the full affiliate disclosure
Truehost (KENIC registrar)
KenyanBest for .co.ke domains
.KE domains are managed by KENIC and sold through accredited registrars. Truehost is the most used, with M-Pesa checkout and instant activation.
- Direct KENIC accreditation
- M-Pesa checkout
- Free DNS management
- Transfers out can be slow
- Upsells during checkout
Namecheap
Best for .com and global domains
The safest default for .com, .africa and everything that is not .ke. Free WHOIS privacy for life, clean DNS panel, no aggressive renewal games.
- Free WHOIS privacy forever
- Honest renewal pricing
- Great DNS interface
- Cannot register .co.ke
- Card or PayPal only
Cloudflare Registrar
Cheapest renewals long term
Sells domains at wholesale cost with no markup, ever. You must use Cloudflare DNS, and you can only transfer in an existing domain — not register brand-new ones for every TLD.
- No markup on renewals
- Best-in-class free DNS + CDN
- Free WHOIS privacy
- Transfer-in only for many TLDs
- No .co.ke support
- No phone support
Domain privacy and .ke
WHOIS privacy hides your phone number and email from public lookup. Most .ke registrars offer limited privacy compared with global TLDs, so expect some marketing calls after registering. Use a secondary phone number and a dedicated email address for registrations.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Kenyan ID or business registration?
No. .co.ke is open — you do not need a registered company. Restricted extensions like .ac.ke and .go.ke do require documentation.
Can I transfer my .co.ke to another registrar?
Yes. You request an authorisation code from your current registrar and submit it at the new one. Domains cannot be transferred within 60 days of registration.
What if my domain expires?
There is a grace period, then a redemption period with a much higher fee, then it drops to the public. Do not rely on that grace period.
If you only take one thing from this guide
Truehost (KENIC registrar) is our current top pick for domains — best for .co.ke domains.
Truehost (KENIC registrar)
KenyanBest for .co.ke domains
.KE domains are managed by KENIC and sold through accredited registrars. Truehost is the most used, with M-Pesa checkout and instant activation.
- Direct KENIC accreditation
- M-Pesa checkout
- Free DNS management
- Transfers out can be slow
- Upsells during checkout