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KeNIC

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General Information
Industry: Registry
Country: Kenya
Headquarters: Waiyaki Way, Nairobi
Website: http://www.kenic.or.ke
Email: admin [at] kenic.or.ke
Facebook: Facebook
Twitter: [@KenicTLD Twitter]
People
Founder(s): Dr. Shem Ochuodho and Mr. Randy Bush


Kenya Network Information Centre (KeNIC) is the registry operator for Kenya's .ke ccTLD.[1] It also aims at the development of Internet and other Internet related services in Kenya, with the assistance of various national and international organizations through cooperative agreements, as well as public-private partnerships (PPPs).[2] In addition to these main objectives, KeNIC aims to bring Kenya on equal standards with the global Internet technology with the assistance of the government.[3]

History edit

In 1993, the .ke domain was delegated by Jon Postel to Dr. Shem Ochuodho and Randy Bush as the administrative and technical contacts, respectively.[4] In 2000, Kenyan stakeholders initiated a series of conversations that resulted in the formation of KeNIC in October 2001.[4] KeNIC submitted a redelegation request to IANA in June 2002, with the support of the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) and local Internet stakeholders.[4] Dr. Ochuodho was largely nonresponsive to requests from IANA to discuss the redelegation request. At an in-person meeting at ICANN's East Africa Internet Forum in August of 2002, Dr. Ochuodho communicated his objections to the redelegation to IANA. In the meeting, IANA and Dr. Ochuodho agreed that "within thirty days [Dr. Ochuodho] would either (a) work out a solution with KENIC on the management of the .ke ccTLD; (b) demonstrate significant support within the Kenyan Internet community for administration of the .ke ccTLD by him rather than KENIC; or (c) agree to the redelegation of the .ke ccTLD."[4] He did not follow up with IANA within the subsequent thirty days, nor at any time prior to the IANA Redelegation Report being published in December 2002.[4]

As a result, KeNIC's redelegation request became one of the rare instances in which the parties involved in a redelegation matter were unable to reach consensus amongst themselves. In such cases, IANA is obliged to make a determination regarding the request.[5] The redelegation report states that cases such as this follow a particular trend: "Characteristically, these circumstances have involved an overwhelming demonstration, without adequate rebuttal, of relevant support for redelegation."[4][6] IANA determined that this was another such case, and approved redelegation of the domain to KeNIC.[4] In the report, IANA took pains to thank Dr. Ochuodho for his service:

In concluding that redelegation is appropriate, the IANA does not question the substantial contributions of good faith of Dr. Ochuodho. Since 1993, he has provided, without compensation, a valuable service to Kenya, in the best traditions of the Internet. During his service, the Internet has arrived and grown enormously in Kenya. With hundreds of thousands of users now going online every day, it is not surprising that the Kenyan Internet community would seek to have the administration of the .ke registry shifted from a single individual to a stable and reliable institutional setting, with open and participatory policymaking procedures, professional staffing, and competent technical operations located within Kenya. Dr. Ochuodho deserves credit for establishing the .ke registry and shepherding its development to this point. In that sense, the IANA's redelegation determination is a consequence of the growth and maturation of the Kenyan Internet community, and should not be taken as a criticism of Dr. Ochuodho's voluntary stewardship.[4]

Membership edit

KENIC consists of a members board and associate members. Members are drawn from of a mixture of both the Kenyan Internet community and the Kenyan Government.

The board members are selected from internet governance & technological organizations:

  • Communications Commission Kenya (CCK)
  • TELKOM Kenya
  • Government IT Services (GITS)
  • Directorate of E-Governance
  • Telecommunications Services Providers Association of Kenya (TESPOK)
  • Kenya Education Network (KENET)

The Associated members are selected from:

  • Kenya ICT Network (KICTANet)
  • Domain-Name Registrar Association of Kenya (DRAKE)
  • Kenya Internet Marketing Association (KIMA)

Roles of KENIC edit

KENIC was established with the vision of bringing the Kenyan Internet technology up to global standards and to promote Internet and its services in the country on a large scale. KENIC has the following functions:

  • To develop and promote .ke ccTLD.
  • To create a technological infrastructure for the efficient administration of the .ke ccTLD.
  • Manage the .ke TLD, its second level domains and local domains effectively.
  • To create a cost-effective environment for the effective growth of .ke.
  • Notify the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) of any changes to contact information about .ke.
  • Allow ICANN to access .ke zone files and registration data .
  • Meet all the registration and financial obligations of ICANN.
  • Abide with all global ICANN Internet policies.
  • Assist ICANN in its development.[7]

.ke edit

The .ke domain is an Open Use ccTLD, with no registration restrictions at the top level.[8] KeNIC supports registrations under several second level domains. There are no restrictions to registering domains under:

  • co.ke (intended for companies)
  • or.ke (nonprofits/NGOs)
  • ne.ke (IoT or network devices)
  • me.ke (personal uses)
  • info.ke (informational)
  • mobi.ke (mobile)[9]

Three SLDs require documentation establishing that the registrant is either a school (ac.ke and sc.ke) or government entity (go.ke) within Kenya.

References edit

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