By Michael Ouma

Awareness creation to increase adoption of country domain names by individuals, institutions and the private sector is crucial to development. Such efforts would enhance the country’s shift from the use of .com domain and lead to the adoption of Kenya’s .ke country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD).

The administrative manager at the Kenya Network Information Centre (Kenic) Vincent Ngundi says awareness creation, especially on the importance of ccTLD is crucial for the region. Says Mr Ngundi: "Awareness creation on the importance of a ccTLD in e-business, education, marketing, advertising and communications. This can be done through enhancing literacy levels and economic empowerment."

Mr Ngundi says figures from the NGO, which administers and manages the .ke and draws membership from the public and private sectors of the Kenya Internet community show that there are currently 9770 registered .ke domain names.

registration

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Even though this figure is the highest in the EAC region, it is still lower than South Africa’s, which is the highest in the continent. The country has registered more local domain names (bearing the .za code).

According to Africa Domain Names (AfriDNS), a membership organisation for ccTLD administrators, South Africa’s top level domain "accounts for more than 80 per cent of domains registered in the region, and is highly structured."

"The reasons range from a relatively high population, awareness activities over time, sense of belonging by the people of South Africa, and a relatively high level of IT literacy in the country coupled with economically empowered citizenry," says Ngundi.

Kenic charges about $30 as registration fees annually and is only for residents. Uganda charges $50 for the .ug domain registration per annum. Registration is only open to companies operating in Uganda, and the domain address must be used within three months after acquisition.

In Tanzania, which operates the .tz domain, registrations must be from organisations with a physical presence in the country, and with a demonstrable intent to use the domain name on a regular basis on the Internet. No fee is charged.