Kenic

The 8th Annual Registrar Award
2024-08-15
This will be the 8th Annual Awards Ceremony. The Awards ceremony are celebrated each year, and are aimed at:

Recognizing efforts by accredited .KE registrars in growing the .KE brand.
Discuss pertinent issues that impact on the growth of .KE domains numbers
Strengthen our engagement and foster a better working relationship with one of our key partners aimed at increasing domain Registrations and Renewals to meet the 2023 targets.

The 1st Awards Ceremony was held on 11th February 2016 at Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, while 2nd Awards Ceremony took place on Friday, 23rd February 2018 at Pride INN, Westlands. The 3rd Awards Ceremony was held on 12th April 2019 at Intercontinental Nairobi followed by the 4th KeNIC Registrar Awards Ceremony that was held at Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi on 20th March 2020 in a Hybrid Event.

Due to the pandemic and adherence to the MoH guidelines, the 5th Awards Ceremony was also held in a Hybrid format on Thursday 13, May 2021 Movenpick Hotel Nairobi, the 6th Awards Ceremony was held at Pride INN on March 23rd 2022 and 7th Awards Ceremony on March 23rd 2023 at Movenpick Hotel Nairobi.
To find out more about the past awards https://kenic.or.ke/annual-registrar-awards-categories/

During the 8th Annual Registrar Awards, we will discuss pertinent issues that impact the growth of .KE domains numbers, strengthen our engagement and foster a better working relationship with all our key partners aimed at increasing .KE domain registrations and renewals.
We will also recognize the top 20 Domain Registrars of 2023.
We will also have a loyalty award for the longest Registrants for each .KE domain extension. This category has been added this year.

KENYA INTERNET SUMMIT 2024
2024-08-14
KeNIC hosted the Kenya Domain Name System Forum. An annual event that aimed to help the Kenya Registry to grow at a competitive rate and ensure that Kenya is on par with the rest of the world’s Registries. This event offered opportunities to network with other stakeholders and industry experts, discuss business, technical, and policy aspects of the approaches to establish and expand online presence.
In conjunction with the Africa Top Level Domains Organization (AfTLD), the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), and the Internet Society Kenya (ISOC), KeNIC hosted the first-ever virtual Kenya DNS Forum on the 22nd of July 2021 with the theme “Growth of the domain name system in kenya and beyond”. The Forum brought together DNS ecosystem stakeholders to discuss current concerns and ways to help the .KE domain thrive going forward.
In October 4th 2022: KeNIC hosted the second national DNS Forum with the theme “Cybersecurity” and saw over 200 local, regional and international delegates attend a hugely successful forum. Partners included Communication Authority of Kenya, Huawei, Liquid Technologies, Africa Data Centers, Pan African IX Data Centre Kenya (PAIX) and Kenya Education Network (KENET) among others. The event was held at Emara Sereni on 4 – 6 October 2022.
In November 2023: KeNIC hosted the third DNS Forum with the theme “Navigating the future of Cybersecurity and Unleashing the Power of Domains” and saw over 800 local, regional and international delegated both virtually and physically. Partners included Konza Technopolis Development Authority (KOTDA), ICANN, KENET, PAIX and Technology Service Providers of Kenya (TESPOK) among others. The event was held at Tamarind Tree Hotel on 2 – 3 November 2023.
Speakers included for 2023 DNS Forum; https://kenic.or.ke/event/kenya-domain-name-system-dns-forum-2023/
See photos for the 2023 Annual Domain Name System Conference here: https://shorturl.at/nwGN4
Watch the 2023 Annual Domain Name System Conference on YouTube here:https://www.youtube.com/@kenictld7117/streams

August 2024: This year’s annual signature event is scheduled for 14-15 Aug, conconverging public and private stakeholders in the internet sector as well as recognizing the commendable players in the domains-industry. We are in discussions with a leading regional and global business mogul, to grace the 2-Day event as a globally renowned Business Coach, Motivational Speaker and Vision Caster. The target audience will be MSME as well as select gatekeepers across various sectors, that can unlock quantum domains’ uptake.
REGISTER NOW: https://forum.kenic.or.ke

Invitation to Participate in .KE Mobile App Development
2024-04-05 10:00 - 11:00 (Africa/Nairobi) | ONLINE, Kenya
We are building our .KE mobile app and we want you to be a part of this exciting journey!
During the webinar, we’ll be diving into:
– Our vision for the .KE mobile app
– Key features and functionalities
– Collaborative efforts needed for a successful launch
– Execution Timelines
Let’s work together to elevate .KE in the digital space.
We look forward to your participation!
See you then!

Kenya Domain Name System (DNS) Forum 2023
2023-11-01 - 2023-11-02
Click to watch recorded video: KeNIC Youtube (Day 1 and Day 2)
Click to Read The November Issue of KeNIC newsletter in recap of the #KenyaDNSForum2023
Click to view Kenya DNS official website: https://dnsforum.ke/

The Kenya Domain Name System Forum is an annual open event for stakeholders in the Domain Name Industry in East Africa and beyond organized by Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC). The first Kenya DNS forum was held in 2021- a virtual event. In 2022, this annual event was themed ‘Cybersecurity’ and saw over 200 local, regional, and international delegates attend a hugely successful forum. Partners included the Communications Authority of Kenya, Huawei, Liquid Technologies, Africa Data Centers, PAIX, and KENET among others. The event was held at Emara Sereni on 4 – 6 October 2022.
The Kenya Domain Name System Forum aims to help the Kenya Registry to grow at a competitive rate and ensure that Kenya is on par with the rest of the world’s Registries. This event will offer opportunities to network with other stakeholders and industry experts and discuss business, technical, and policy aspects of the approaches to establishing and expanding online presence.
This year’s event will be held on 1 – 2 November 2023 with the “Navigating The Future of Cybersecurity & Unleashing The Power of Domains”.
Key Topics to Be Addressed at The Kenya DNS 2023 Will Include:

Influencing Governmental Policy on Internet Penetration in East & Rest of Africa
Evaluating the risks and opportunities facing the Domain Naming Ecosystem
Positioning Kenya and the region for growth
Monetizing your online presence
Data privacy and protection
Strengthening collaboration among stakeholders in the domain name ecosystem in Africa
Children’s right
Copyrights/Trademarks

Expected Outcomes

Provide a launch pad for new developments in the Domain Name Ecosystem in Africa and Globally.
Identify strategic action points that will be key to the growth of the domain name ecosystem in Africa
Promote the 3R Model for wider adoption and uptake in the region and Africa-wide.
Strengthening stakeholder engagement in the Africa Domain Name ecosystem
Build awareness and define strategies to tackle issues impeding the growth of the Africa Domain Name ecosystem

Speakers

Welcoming remarks – KeNIC CEO:
Mr. Andrew Lewela Mwanyota
Key Note Speaker
Andy Chadwick, Head of Africa Cyber Network @ Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
– Future of Cybersecurity

Welcoming remarks – EX. KeNIC Chairman:
Mr. Geoffrey Shimanyula
– Highlighting Successes of the last 5 Years
Presentation from AFTLD
Barrack Otieno – Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Dot Africa

New KeNIC Chairman
Mr. Paul Kariuki
– Introduction of KeNIC Board Members
– Agenda 2024 – 26 Outlook
Presentation from ICANN
Bob Ochieng – Snr. Director: ngTLD Program
June Okal – Senior Manager, Stakeholder Engagement, Africa

ICANN presentation on Coalition for Digital Africa
Panel Discussion: Education and Domain
– Grace Githaiga – CEO/Convenor of the Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet)
– Eng. Alphonce Odhiambo – President, the Internet Society of Kenya
– Winnie Rachael – Country Manager, UNICAF
– Patricia Kimani Nyanjau – Senior System Administer (KENET)
Moderator – Davis Waithaka, Chief Executive Officer at Elimu Holdings

BREAKOUT SESSION on DNS/DNSEC
– Ahmed Landi – KeNIC Senior Advisor and Technical Manager
Panel Discussion: Government of Kenya (GOK) and Internet Governance Stakeholders
– Lucas Omollo – Chief Manager, ICT & Smart City Solutions, Konza Technopolis Development Authority
– Fiona Asonga – Chief Executive Officer, Technology Service Providers of Kenya – TESPOK
– Thomas Odhiambo – KeNIC Vice-chair & Director, Programmes & Standards

Moderator: Ali Hussein Kassim, CEO, AHK Corp

Panel Discussion 1: Future of Cybersecurity
– Lucas Omollo – Manager, ICT & Smart City Solutions · KOTDA
– Nabihah Rishad – Product and Research Lead, Serianu Limited
Moderator: Patrick Kiniti – CEO of Techmax Solutions
Panel Discussion 4: Unleashing Power of Domains
– Vionna Wairimu- Marketing Manager Sasahost LTD
– Freda Kariba, CEO, Aplin Media
– Davis Waithaka, Chief Executive Officer, Elimu Holdings
Moderator – James Thuruthi – Chief Operating Officer, Frontier Optical Networks (FON)

Panel Discussion 2: Cybersecurity Innovation in Mobile Financial Services
– Nyagitari Bosire – Head, Technology Enterprise Services, Safaricom PLC
– Eric Ngei – Head of Cybersecurity at KCB Group
– Fredrick Wahome: Co-founder of Kenya Cybersecurity and Forensics Association
– Kevin Kanyi – Head of Cyber Threat Intelligence & Threat Hunting, M-KOPA.
Moderator: Rose Kimwatu-Koech – Head of Data Protection, KCB
Panel Discussion 5: Monetizing your Domain
– Moses Kemibaro – CEO, DotSavvy Ltd
– Mbugua Njihia – Venture Builder and Solution Architect

Moderator – Gitau Muraguri, Marketing Manager, KeNIC

KONZA Technopolis Development Authority presentation by:
John Paul Okwiri, Chief Executive Officer

Panel Discussion: Enhancing Collaboration between stakeholders
– Paul Kariuki – KeNIC Chairman
– Eng. Alphonce Odhiambo – President, the Internet Society of Kenya
– Bob Ochieng – Snr. Director: ngTLD Program, ICANN
– Fiona Asonga – Chief Executive Officer, Technology Service Providers of Kenya – TESPOK
– Joel Karubiu, Country Representation/Export Advisor, ENTERPRISE ESTONIA
Moderator: Barrack Otieno – Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Dot Africa Foundation

Panel Discussion 3: Trends in Data Protection and Guidelines for the Future
– Rose Kimwatu-Koech – Head of Data Protection at KCB Bank Kenya
– Josephine Achunga Oyombe – Managing Partner, J. Oyombe Advocates
– William Kimuhu – Data Protection Officer, Mwalimu Sacco
Moderator: John Walubengo, KeNIC ICT Committee & Lecturer, Multimedia University of Kenya

KeNIC Webinar: Navigating the .KE Domain Landscape
2023-10-03 10:00 - 11:30
Join us for an engaging and informative webinar titled “Navigating the .KE Domain Landscape: Addressing Emerging Issues and Ensuring Best Practices.” The digital world is constantly evolving, and the importance of domain names, especially the .KE domain extension, cannot be underestimated in Kenya’s online community.
Webinar objectives

To identify and analyze the emerging issues in .KE Domain Disputes.
To provide insights into the legal and practical aspects of addressing domain disputes.
To present effective strategies and best practices to prevent domain-related issues
To educate you on domain dispute resolution mechanisms and their applicability

Topics to be addressed:

‘.KE Domain Registration, management, and the. role of Kenya Cybersecurity and Forensics Association to Kenyan Individuals or businesses.
Domain dispute resolutions and handling of fraud as the domain registry of Kenya.
Copyright Infringement in Domain Names, digital content, and copyright protection
Exploring the practical cybersecurity strategies for businesses and individuals
Future of domains and the role of AfTLD in shaping the domain industry in Africa.

Our expert panel includes
1. Barrack Otieno – General Manager, Africa Top-Level Domain Association (AFTLD)
2. Sharon Wata – Deputy Executive Director, @kenyacopyrightboard
3. Fredrick Wahome – Vice Chair (Kenya Cyber Security & Forensics Association (KCSFA)
4. Beth Njau, Data Protection and Privacy Office, KeNIC

The discussion will be moderated by Judy Ngure, Cybersecurity Consultant.

The 4th Kenya Second Level Domain Auction 2023
2023-10-02 08:00 - 2023-11-02 17:00 | ONLINE, Kenya
KeNIC wishes to run a Second Level Domains auction from 02 October 2023 to 3rd November 2023. This will be the fourth auction having done the first one in 2017, 2021, and 2022.
Objectives:

Increase uptake of .KE name space in the internet ecosystem.
Increase .KE brand visibility by allowing bidders from across the world to acquire their preferred names.
Generate revenue to fund projects like new product development, and building initiatives, improve our technical infrastructure, and fund CSR activities.
Increase offering of .KE name space.

DOMAINS TO BE AUCTIONED:
A total of 719 names will be auctioned this time which are premium names with high demand compared to third-level domains. The reserve prices are as follows:

Category
Domains

Platinum Domains
93 Domains

Gold Domains
68 Domains

BUY NOW Domains
558 Domains

The criteria used to determine the selection of domains for the Platinum, Gold, and Buy Now category was advised by the trend from the last Auction where 2 letter domains were in higher demand than other domains.
There will not be any other new names added to the list that are not reserved. For a name that is not reserved, it means it is available for registration and if it was that premium, it could have already been registered.

The auction platform will have two (2) selling options: – The Buy Now or Bid Option.
Buy Now Option:

Domains from the reserved Premium names will be sold under this category without bids.
The buying price is inclusive of the registration price and is payable immediately.
After payment, the client will be advised to choose their preferred KeNIC Accredited Registrar from the list of Registrars provided on the platform. The domain will then be transferred to the Registrar who will provide additional services like webhosting etc.
Domains will be sold on a first-come first serve basis.

Bid Option:

The bidding price is different from the domain Registration price, after winning a bid, the winner will then select a Registrar and pay the normal SLD Registration Price
The winner will be notified via email and must pay for the domain within 7 working days after the Auction is closed. Failure to which, the domain will be awarded to the second highest bidder who also must pay within 7 working days.
Winners must show proof that they have initiated the payment process within 72 hours of being declared winners.

Click to view the .KE domain names to be auctioned here; KeNIC Auction Platform
Get ready to seize the ultimate chance to claim your dream .KE domain name!
📅 Save the date: October 2nd – November 3rd.

Intellectual Property Protection and Web Hosting in the Digital Era
2023-08-02 10:00 - 11:00
The KONZA TECHNOPOLIS in collaboration with The Kenya Network Information Centre (KENIC) is hosting a Webinar on the 2ND of August 2023. The Webinar will focus on Intellectual Property Protection and Web Hosting in the Digital Era.
Webinar will highlight the value of.ke platform for users and opportunities to have an online presence, professional email addresses and websites on the .KE platform. The webinar will have a leading content creator, ‘Njugush – The Comedian’ as guest and brand ambassador

TIME
SESSION
FACILITATOR

10.00-10.15 HRS
Participant log-in and Opening Remarks
Gitau Muraguri & Andrew L. Mwanyota CEO KeNIC

10.15-11.00 HRS
Panel Discussion
Stella Muhoro Njugush – The Comedian

11.00-11.30 HRS
Plenary & Closing
Stella Muhoro & KeNIC CEO & Njugush Comedian

Register Via Zoom

KeNIC Registrar Awards Ceremony
2023-03-23 08:00 - 12:00
This will be the 7th Annual Awards Ceremony, the 1st Awards Ceremony was held on 11th February 2016 at Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi, while 2nd Awards Ceremony took place at Pride INN, Westlands.
The 3rd Awards Ceremony was held on 12th April 2019 at Intercontinental Nairobi followed by the 4th KeNIC Registrar Awards Ceremony that was held at Sarova Panafric Hotel, Nairobi on 20th March 2020 in a Hybrid Event.
Due to the pandemic and adherence to the MoH guidelines, the 5th Awards Ceremony was also held in a Hybrid format on Thursday 13, May 2021 Movenpick Hotel Nairobi and the 6th Awards Ceremony was held at Pride INN on March 23rd 2022.
2023 Awards Ceremony
This year’s event will be a physical event on 23rd March, 2023 at 8:00AM – 12:00Noon. The Awards ceremony are celebrated each year, and are aimed at:

Recognizing efforts by accredited .KE registrars in growing the .KE brand.
Discuss pertinent issues that impact on the growth of .KE domains numbers
Strengthen our engagement and foster a better working relationship with one of our key partners aimed at increasing domain Registrations and Renewals to meet the 2023 targets.

This event is expected to:

Bring together 100 participants
Bring at least 3 exhibitors to the event
Bring industry players such as CA, ICANN and AFTLD.
Award best performers of the year 2022
Share KeNIC’s agenda for 2023

CRITERIA OF THE CHOOSING THE CATEGORIES
Category 1: New Registrar of the Year

New Registrars who have been on boarded for more than six months in 2022 will be selected as nominees in this category.
The registrar with the highest domain registration numbers will be selected as the winner.
The top three registrars will be awarded.

Category 2: .KE Marketing Campaigns

Registrars in this category will be selected based on notable efforts undertaken to market .KE domain. Registrars who have actively engaged with potential clients/registrants through the year in: – Social media campaigns, direct sales promotions, .KE events, Online marketing will be selected as nominees.
The winners must demonstrate that they have actively promoted .KE through the year.
The top three registrars will be awarded for this category.

Category 3: Customer Support
The criteria that will be used to select the nominees is as follows:

Customer Care: a 24hrs dedicated customer care line
Notification: Regular notification to Clients to renew their domains
Automation: Automated registration and renewal process
Customer Satisfaction Survey Responses sent via email & responding on the timelines and without indicated by the Registry without being reminded.

Category 4: Customer Domain Retention

Registrars with over 2,000 domains renewed in the year 2022 will be selected as nominees in this category. The top three registrars will be awarded.

Category 5: Domain Registrations

Nominees will be selected based on the number of domains they registered in 2022. The top three registrars will be awarded.

Category 6: Regional Registrar Award

This award will seek to recognise top Registrars from these regions: Coast, Rift Valley, Eastern, Western, North Eastern, Nyanza and Central.
Registrars with more than 200 domain registration numbers in the year will be selected as nominee.
The top three registrars will be awarded.

Category 7: Registrar of the Year
The Registrar must have been in the top three in these categories:

Domain Registration
Customer Domain Retention
.KE Marketing Campaigns
Customer Support

It is possible that more than one registrar will be in the top 3 in two or more of the above-mentioned categories. To determine a clear winner, points will be awarded as follows:

Award Categories
Points awarded

Winner
1st Runners up
2nd Runners up

Domain Registration

Domain Retention

.Ke Marketing Campaign

Customer Support

The Registrar with the highest total cumulative points will be the Registrar of the Year

KeNIC Webinar - Educating Youth For a Cybersecurity Future.
2022-11-29 10:00 - 11:30
Cybersecurity has gained major importance in today’s world; it is no longer a choice, but a need. With this in mind, we hosted a #KeNICTalks webinar
The future of the Security of Cyberspace in Kenya is dependent on future generation and with a sudden shift from offline to online mode of learning/working, Cybersecurity has gained major importance; it is no longer a choice, but a need.
The youths are impacted more by cybercrime now than ever before. They are surrounded by online crime and malicious activity and they must be prepared for that reality.
Curiosity is one word that many experts are using to describe Gen-Z. This curiosity has allowed them to look past the problem, consider existing solutions and formulate out-of-the-box approaches, unlike any generation that has gone before them. They are constantly challenging their predecessors’ problem-solving, not just in cybersecurity, but far beyond that, from challenging social norms to advocating for long-overdue policy changes in every aspect of society.
They have what it takes to come to the table with new ideas that break the mold in a profound way. This stems from a generational lack of cybersecurity education, yet we can change this problem now by promoting the education of children in cybersecurity.
The KeNIC Webinar, #KeNICTALKS focused on:
1. How cybersecurity awareness or digital literacy campaigns can increase online safety.
2. Approaches of introducing cybersecurity as a curriculum in learning institutions.
3. Supporting youth to explore cybersecurity as an area of study or career.
You can watch all the sessions from this crucial discussion on; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U0n–aejpM&t=23s
SPEAKERS

SECOND LEVEL DOMAIN AUCTION 2022
2022-11-01 09:00 - 2022-12-02 00:00
KeNIC will run an online Second Level Domains auction starting November 2022. The Second Level Domain name space allows registrations of one name part before the DOT KE with no specialisation e.g. name.ke
A total of 724 names will be auctioned this time which are premium names with high demand compared to third level domains. The reserve prices are follows:

Category
Domains
Price (USD)

Platinum Domains
93 Domains
3500.00

Gold Domains
72 Domains
1200.00

BUY NOW Domains
559 Domains
100.00

The auction platform will have two (2) selling options: – The Buy Now or Bid Option.
Buy Now Option

Domains from the reserved Premium names will be sold under this category without bids.
Buyers will buy domains at USD 100.00
The buying price is inclusive of registration price and is payable immediately.
After payment, the client will be advised to choose their preferred KeNIC Accredited Registrar from the list of Registrars provided on the platform. The domain will then be transferred to the Registrar who will provide additional services like webhosting etc.
Domains will be sold on a first come first serve basis.

Bid Option:

The Registry will set a minimum bidding price for platinum domains at USD 3,500 and Gold Domain at USD 1,200.
The bidding price is different from the domain Registration price, after winning a bid, the winner will then select a Registrar and pay the normal SLD Registration Price of USD 25.00
The winner will be notified via email and must pay for the domain within 7 working days after the Auction is closed. Failure to which, the domain will be awarded to the second highest bidder who also must pay within 7 working days.
Winners must show proof that they have initiated the payment process within 72 hours of being declared winners.
Top up prices will be set at USD 50.00 above the set minimum bidding price.

These Second Level domain names are unique and have a premium value.
We take this opportunity to invite you to KeNIC SLD online auction, which is scheduled to commence on November 2022.
Auction Link: https://auction.kenic.or.ke/

2022 Kenya DNS Forum
2022-10-04 08:00 - 17:00
This year marks KeNIC’s 20th Anniversary, as we celebrate this milestone, we will host the Kenya Domain Name System (DNS) Forum under the theme “Cybersecurity” on October 4, 2022. This event is poised to bring together ICT/DNS experts, government representatives, local and international policy makers, global Registries for country code top-level domain (ccTLDs), domain name registrars and registrants to discuss the growth of the DNS Ecosystem and its impact on technology.
This event will have 3 plenary sessions led by key government representatives, ICT stakeholders, as well as regional and global registry representatives. Topics for discussion will include:

Legislation & governance in the Internet Ecosystem.
Building a more resilient and secure ccTLD ecosystem for social and economic development
DNS Security; How to combat cyber security threats

The forum will seek to address various challenges and highlight opportunities faced by entrepreneurs and stakeholders in the domain name industry. We believe that by addressing these challenges and seizing opportunities in this sector, the lives of Kenyans will be positively impacted both socially and economically.
Who should attend: Registries, registrars, registrants, ccTLDs, government representatives, service providers, brand owners, legal firms, DNS expert, government representatives, ICT service providers, universities, financial institutions, Insurance companies and Intellectual Properties Specialists
KeNIC is amongst 5 registries in Africa to host a national DNS forum and the first-ever virtual Kenya DNS Forum was held on the 22nd July 2021. Read more here

SPEAKERS

SPONSORS
