The 2024 Kenya Internet Summit and Awards, held from August 14th to 16th, proved to be a landmark event in Kenya’s internet landscape. Bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and key stakeholders from across the nation and beyond, this year’s summit underscored Kenya’s growing influence in the digital world. Sponsored by major global organizations like ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) and organized by KeNIC (Kenya Network Information Centre), the event celebrated the achievements of local registrars and explored cutting-edge topics in internet governance and digital development.
ICANN’s Role in Advancing the Digital Space in Africa
ICANN’s role as a sponsor reaffirmed its commitment to advancing digital governance in Africa. Throughout the summit, ICANN representatives delivered insightful presentations on initiatives that are shaping the future of the global internet, particularly in underserved regions like Africa. Their key topics included
- The New gTLD Program: Next Round – ICANN provided an in-depth discussion on the upcoming round of generic top-level domains (gTLDs), which will offer new opportunities for businesses and communities to establish digital identities.
- The Applicant Support Program – Designed to ensure underrepresented regions have the tools and financial support to apply for new gTLDs, this program aims to bolster participation from Africa in the expanding domain space.
- The Coalition for Digital Africa – A collaborative effort to increase African involvement in global digital initiatives, the coalition focuses on building a robust digital ecosystem across the continent.
- Public Responsibility Programs – ICANN emphasized its ongoing commitment to ensuring that the internet remains accessible, secure, and resilient for all users, particularly in developing nations.
In addition to these presentations, ICANN maintained a booth throughout the summit, allowing participants to engage directly with their initiatives and learn about the resources available to Kenyan digital businesses and organizations.
KeNIC’s Prestigious Awards: Recognizing Excellence in Domain Registration
One of the most anticipated segments of the summit was the prestigious KeNIC Awards, which honored registrars who demonstrated leadership, innovation, and excellence in domain registration and customer service. The awards spanned five distinct categories, reflecting the diverse contributions of registrars to the .KE domain ecosystem. This year’s awards celebrated remarkable achievements from industry players, both established and new.
KeNIC AWARDS 2024 (Categories)
1. New Registrar of the Year Award
Winner: Hostraha Limited
Hostraha took the spotlight by winning this award for its rapid rise in domain registrations, having onboarded within just six months.
Runners-up: Geo Cloud Africa, Quick Host Africa,
2. Highest .KE Domain Growth 2023
Winner: Truehost Cloud Limited
Truehost Cloud Limited led in customer loyalty by retaining a significant number of domain renewals, underscoring their commitment to delivering reliable service.
Runners-up: Kenya Website Experts
3. Domain Registrations
Winner: Truehost Cloud Limited
Truehost Cloud Limited demonstrated their dominance by registering the highest number of domains in 2023, securing their place as a market leader.
Runners-up: Global Internet Fortunes Limited, Kenya Website Experts
4. Regional Registrar Award
Winner: Hostnali Limited
This award recognized regional excellence in domain registration. Hostnali Webhost Limited emerged as the top performer in this category, with strong contributions to the local internet ecosystem.
Runners-up: Gamma Solutions, Ecobiz Limited
5. Registrar of the Year
Winner: Truehost Cloud Limited
Truehost Cloud Limited once again dominated, winning the Registrar of the Year award for the second consecutive year. By excelling in multiple categories—such as highest .ke domain growth, customer support, and domain registrations—Truehost has continued to solidify its place as the leading registrar in Kenya.
Truehost Cloud Limited: A Reigning Champion
The star of this year’s awards was undoubtedly Truehost Cloud Limited, which continued to demonstrate its leadership in Kenya’s domain registration landscape. With wins in both the Registrar of the Year and Domain Registrations categories, and a strong showing in several other categories, Truehost’s remarkable consistency and performance are clear indicators of its customer-focused approach, innovative solutions, and long-term vision.
For the second year in a row, Truehost claimed the coveted Registrar of the Year title, further solidifying its reputation as a driving force in the industry. Their success is a testament to their unwavering dedication to excellence, as well as their ability to continuously adapt to the evolving needs of Kenya’s digital community.
A Glimpse into the Future
The 2024 Kenya Internet Summit and Awards showcased the vibrant and dynamic nature of Kenya’s digital economy. With the growing involvement of global organizations like ICANN and the recognition of local industry leaders, the event painted a promising picture of Kenya’s role in the global internet space.
As more initiatives like the Coalition for Digital Africa take shape and the .KE domain continues to expand, Kenya is poised to become a key player in Africa’s digital transformation. This year’s winners, particularly Truehost Cloud Limited, have set a high bar for innovation and leadership, paving the way for a brighter future in the digital landscape.
As the internet continues to evolve and grow in importance, the contributions of local registrars and digital service providers will be instrumental in shaping Kenya’s future as a leading digital hub in Africa.
