Kenya's telecommunications, security firms, and other critical infrastructure providers have been given six months to register their web addresses under the country's domain name extension, ".ke".

According to Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), the directive it issued on August 1, 2024, aims to bolster cybersecurity measures for these essential services.

The decision stems from a meeting held in March 2024 by the National Computer and Cybercrimes Coordination Committee (NC4), a multi-agency body responsible for overseeing national cybersecurity and international collaboration in cybercrime prevention.

In an official notice dated August 1, 2024, CA Director-General David Mugonyi emphasised the importance of this move to the development of the targeted sectors.

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"All systems designated as critical information infrastructure ...must further ensure that the security and reliability of any dot KE domain names in use is safeguarded," Mugonyi stated.

The directive applies to a wide range of critical entities, including mobile and internet service providers, judicial institutions, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), and national security agencies.

Additionally, healthcare institutions, food safety organizations, aviation systems, transportation ticketing and licensing bodies, and power generation and transmission companies all fall under this mandate.

A cursory inspection reveals that several prominent organizations, such as Airtel Kenya, Kenya Airways, Kenya Seed Company, and the Kenya Agricultural & Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), currently utilize domain extensions like ".com" or ".org".

These entities will need to switch to ".ke" within the allotted timeframe to comply with the regulation.

Proponents of the ".ke" domain argue that it fosters easier market access for businesses and allows them to connect more effectively with their target audience within Kenya.

The Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC) is the official body tasked with managing the registration and issuance of ".ke" domain names within the country.

Data from CA indicates a promising trend, with the number of registered ".ke" domains witnessing a 2.3 per cent increase in the first quarter of 2024. As of December 2023, there were 105,936 registered ".ke" domains, which grew to 108,338 by March 2024.

Notably, the ".co.ke" sub-domain enjoys the highest market share, accounting for 84.8 per cent of all ".ke" domain registrations.

This move by the Kenyan government underscores the growing importance of cybersecurity considerations in today's digital landscape.

By encouraging critical infrastructure providers to adopt the local domain, Kenya is aiming to create a more secure and robust digital ecosystem for its citizens and businesses.