Register a .ac.ke domain.
Register an .ac.ke domain in Kenya for your university, college, polytechnic, or tertiary institution. The .ac.ke extension is KENIC's dedicated namespace for higher education — it separates academic institutions from schools, commercial training providers, and businesses. Your domain will not be published until KENIC verifies your supporting documents.
The official Kenyan academic namespace for universities, colleges, polytechnics, TVETs, and formal tertiary institutions. Reserved by KENIC exclusively for higher education — a .ac.ke domain signals that your institution is a recognised academic body in Kenya.
Registrant requirements
Who can register .ac.ke
- Best fit
- Built for universities, university colleges, constituent colleges, polytechnics, technical training institutes, medical training colleges, TVETs, and any institution classified as tertiary education by the relevant Kenyan ministry.
- Eligibility
- .ac.ke is restricted to accredited tertiary institutions. You must provide one of: a Certificate of Registration from the relevant ministry, the institution's College Charter, or the Act of Parliament that established the institution. KENIC verifies these documents before publishing the domain. Source: KENIC.
University websites — official institutional homepages
TVET and polytechnic portals — course catalogues and admissions
Student admissions and application systems
Faculty, staff, and student email — admissions@university.ac.ke
Research publication platforms and academic journals
Digital libraries and learning management systems
Why buyers choose this
What Kenyan buyers understand immediately
Shows a clear academic identity to students, parents, faculty, and international partners.
Distinguishes tertiary institutions from secondary schools (.sc.ke) and commercial training providers (.co.ke).
Builds credibility with admissions boards, research funders, and accreditation bodies.
Unlocks branded academic email — admissions@institution.ac.ke is instantly recognised as institutional.
Aligns with the KENIC namespace system — the correct extension for institutions of higher learning in Kenya. Source: KENIC.
Required documents
Prepare these before registration
Certificate of Registration from the relevant ministry
College Charter
Act of Parliament establishing the institution
Registration
How to register .ac.ke
Search the exact domain name you want and confirm availability.
Complete the registrant details exactly as they should appear on the domain record.
Upload or submit the supporting documents required for this namespace.
We submit the request, monitor activation, and help you point DNS once the domain is live.
FAQ
.ac.ke questions
Who qualifies for an .ac.ke domain?
Accredited tertiary institutions such as universities, colleges, polytechnics, and TVETs are the best fit for .ac.ke registrations. Source: KENIC.
What documents are needed for .ac.ke?
You need one of: a certificate of registration from the relevant ministry, the college charter, or the Act of Parliament that established the institution. KENIC will verify these before the domain is published. Source: KENIC.
Why use .ac.ke instead of .co.ke for a college?
.ac.ke communicates that the institution is academic, which is stronger for trust, admissions, faculty communication, and formal branding.
How long does .ac.ke registration take?
Registration begins immediately, but the domain is not published until KENIC verifies your supporting documents. Plan for several days to allow for document review.
Can I use .ac.ke for professional email?
Yes. Set up addresses like admissions@institution.ac.ke or registrar@institution.ac.ke. Academic email addresses build credibility with students, faculty, and international partners.
What happens if I register .ac.ke without documents ready?
The domain will remain pending until documents are received and verified by KENIC. Prepare your documents before starting registration to avoid delays.
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