KeNIC

KENIC is an acronym for Kenya Network Information Centre. It is a Domain Registry in Kenya which was established with a goal to create a nonprofit organization which will manage and operate .KE and corresponding ccTLDs. It also aims at the development of Internet and other Internet related services in the country with the assistance of various national and international organizations through Public Private Partnerships (PPPs). 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.

The main contributors, in the formation of this nonprofit organization were Dr. Shem Ochuodho and Mr. Randy Bush. They helped in establishing this organization which began its functioning in full capacity since 1993. Later on in October 2001 KENIC expanded its consultations and services with the assistance of Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK) and the local Internet stakeholders.

Membership

KENIC consists of board of Members and Associate members. The present membership consists of a mixture of both the Kenyan Internet community and the Kenyan Government.

The board members are selected from various organizations as follows:

• 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 various organizations as follows:

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

Roles of KENIC

KENIC was established with a vision to bring the Kenyan Internet technology to the global standards and to promote Internet and its services in the country on a large scale. This vision of KENIC is governed by few functions which it follows.

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

Projects

KENIC has undertaken following projects for the development of Internet and related services.

CSIRT (Computer Security Incident Response Team):

It assists the local Internet providers to use preventive measures in order to reduce the various risks of harmful content on different websites. It encourages the use of active measures which will reduce the risk of computer security incidents and responding to such incidents in the event of their occurrence.

NTP Server:

NTP is a protocol which is designed to synchronize the clocks of the computers connected through a network. NTP operates on a server or reference time source such as radio or satellite receiver or a modem and helps in synchronizing system clocks of computer client or other servers

DNS SEC (Domain Name System Security Extension): It is designed to protect the Internet clients from forged DNS data. It employs cryptography provide authenticity of the DNS to its clients.

Root Server:

It is a DNS server that answers the requests for namespace domain. It directs request for a particular TLDs to the Name-servers of that TLD.

Sponsors

KENIC has both international and national sponsors which assist in the overall development of the organization and its services. The list of these sponsors is as follows:

International Sponsors:

• Network Startup Resource Centre.
• National Science Foundation (NSF).
• Packet Clearing House (PCH).
• CNET Global International.

Local Sponsors:

• Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK)
• Swiftglobal (K) Limited.
• Kenya Data Network (KDN).
• Kenya Internet Exchange Point (KIXP).
• Computer Technics Limited.
• Dotsavvy Africa
• Logistics Creation.