Kenya may need as many as 41 years to reach its target of one million .ke domain names unless the pace of registrations rises sharply, the Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) has warned.
The state agency responsible for the country’s internet registry says the current growth rate is too slow to deliver the ambitious target within the next few years, forcing it to rethink how businesses, organisations and individuals are encouraged to adopt the Kenyan country-code domain.
Incoming KENIC chairman Thomas Odhiambo said the organisation had initially calculated that reaching one million domains at the present rate would take 41 years, although the board now hopes to reduce that period to about 30 years.
“At the current rate, because at the current rate, our estimate is 41 years. But I think as a board, we have decided we are now lowering that number to about 30 years,” said Odhiambo.
The one-million target is part of KENIC’s efforts to increase the use of the .ke domain and build a stronger local digital economy. The agency says every new domain gives a business or organisation a digital identity while also showing the growth of online economic activity in the country.
KENIC has identified micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as a major area of potential growth, with the organisation estimating that Kenya has more than seven million enterprises that could provide a large market for .ke domains.
The agency is now seeking to move beyond its traditional customer base and persuade more small businesses to establish an online presence using Kenyan domain names.
The push will be guided by a new strategic plan covering the 2027–2030 period, with the one-million-domain goal forming a key part of the plan.
Although the overall pace remains low, KENIC has recorded stronger growth at certain points. Monthly registrations have reached about 6,400, the highest rate recorded so far, but the agency says faster registration levels will need to be maintained and expanded if the one-million target is to become achievable sooner.
KENIC plans to make .ke domains more attractive by improving awareness, using new technology and addressing issues that may be holding back adoption.
Artificial intelligence is also being considered as one of the tools that could help drive growth as more businesses take their operations online.
The organisation is also looking outside Kenya, with the diaspora forming another important target market. KENIC has appointed Ambassador Thomas Kwaka Omolo, popularly known as Big Ted, as its inaugural global .ke ambassador as part of efforts to promote the Kenyan domain among Kenyans living abroad.
His role includes encouraging diaspora communities to use .ke domains and strengthening their connection with Kenya’s digital economy.
Cost will also remain an important part of the campaign, with KENIC under pressure to ensure that registration and renewal fees do not discourage businesses from adopting a Kenyan digital identity.
“A .ke domain currently costs about Sh1,000 a year, although we will continue engaging the market on pricing,” said the chair.
KENIC says affordability, security and the availability of suitable domain names will remain central to its efforts to attract more users.
The 2027–2030 strategic plan is expected to set out how the agency will increase registrations and narrow the gap between the current number of .ke domains and its one-million target.