A couple of years ago I did an article on Kenya’s top ten web sites and other notable ones. At the time, to be quite honest, the list read like a who’s who of Internet giants like Google, Yahoo and Facebook. However, since then, so much has changed. It may be that Google or Yahoo still dominate the top ten listing for Kenya but what is more interesting is the much improved presence of wholly local Kenyan web sites in the top one hundred. This trend is obviously being driven by the over 4 million internet users and over 18 million mobile subscribers in Kenya to-date. So, going by the latest Kenya Alexa rankings for January 2010, these are Kenya’s top ten (local) web sites:
1. The Daily Nation: www.nation.co.ke (Alexa Kenya Rank: 9).
The online edition of the Daily Nation is not wholly unexpected. The Daily Nation is Kenya’s leading newspaper which has a global following as well. They redesigned their web site a few years ago and re-did the content style substantively which has obviously improved their online ranking over the years. The Daily Nation is also available as a mobile web edition which could also be contributing to their very high ranking.
2. The East African Standard: www.standardmedia.co.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 13).
The East African Standard is Kenya’s second most popular newspaper after the Daily Nation. Its commendable to see that they have managed a ranking almost as good as the Daily Nation. I suspect this is largely due to the enhanced content and web site redesign that was done a few years ago. To note is that like the Daily Nation, the East African Standard also has a mobile edition of its web site.
3. Kenyan Lyrics: www.kenyanlyrics.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 16)
I have to say that Kenyan Lyrics shocked me. This is a web site that is focused on lyrics for kenyan music as well as musician biographies and links to online content such as music videos on YouTube. To be the third most popular site in Kenya is no mean feat for this niche web site after the Daily Nation and the East African Standard is eye-popping! I’m guessing the bulk of their traffic is from Kenyan teenagers and young adults who are into local music. Amazingly, Kenyan Lyrics do not (yet) seem to be monetizing their web site with ads – quite shocking to be honest!
4. Kenyan Jobs: www.kenyanjobs.blogspot.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 23)
Once again, like Kenyan Lyrics, the Kenyan Jobs Blog stunned me with their high local ranking. This is a Blog that is dedicated to listing and re-listing job opportunities in Kenya from the mainstream media as well as direct listings, for free! Now, this is interesting because there are a fair number of job sites in Kenya nowadays but most charge employers to list. Kenyan Jobs on the other hand does not charge employers or job seekers for listings which obviously is a big pull for local traffic. Kenyan Jobs are monetizing their high ranking through Google AdSense mostly.
5. Home (by AccessKenya): www.home.co.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 25).
Home is a portal from AccessKenya, one of Kenya’s leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Home touts itself as Kenya’s home on the Internet and they do regularly update their content online and send out a weekly e-newsletter. Home seems to be making a major run to become the default homepage for Kenyan content due to its diversity. Its going to a long shot but they are definitely making some money online due to the fact that have lots of credible and paid-up advertisers.
6. Kenya Revenue Authority: www.kra.go.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 35).
Kenya Revenue Authority, or, KRA as they are popularly known have an impressive ranking of six. The tax body clearly has this much traffic due to the many online services they have launched over the past few years. Considering that Kenya has millions of businesses and individuals who have to pay taxes and more recently file returns online, this web site was able to leap from obscurity to the highest echelons of Kenya’s most popular web sites.
7. Nyeri Online: www.nyerionline.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 36).
Nyeri Online surprised me with their high ranking in Kenya considering the limited focus of their content. Nyeri Online, as its name suggests, is focused on content on Nyeri Town. Now, if Nyeri Online can achieve such a high ranking does it not go to show that there is a gap (and presumably unmet demand?) for local content that is town or city specific ALL over Kenya. I’ll end this one by saying the writing is on the wall – “build it, and they will come”.
8. Capital FM: www.capitalfm.co.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 38).
Capital FM is one of Kenya’s leading radio stations with a diverse range of innovative programming that has made them successful for over a decade. Therefore, its good to see that they have managed to extend this leadership to the Internet by cracking the top ten, even if just so barely. Seeing that the Daily Nation and the East African are leading by a substantial gap Capital FM could definitely rise a lot higher in the months to come. However, where are the other leading radio stations in Kenya in this ranking? Maybe they don’t see the Internet as being a key content and business channel yet? Its worrying!
9. BrighterMonday: www.brightermonday.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 41).
BrigterMonday is a web site and online business that I have long admired. They are an online jobs web site for not only Kenya but Uganda and Tanzania which makes them a truly East African online business. They have been advertising online over the years quite aggressively and I’m guessing that apart from having great content this has led them to being one of the top web sites in Kenya. Unlike the Kenyan Jobs Blog, BrigtherMonday does charge employers for listings and they do also monetize their content through ads on their web site.
10. The Business Daily: www.businessdailyafrica.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 47).
The Business Daily is yet another publication of the Nation Media Group that has managed to crack the top ten local Kenyan web sites. The Business Daily has been around for just a few years but it has firmly established as a leading business-focussed newspaper targeting a segment that wants to be on top of important business news in Kenya. The Business Daily, I suspect, has the potential to rise much higher if they invest in original online content and services beyond repurposing what comes out in the print edition.
11 and beyond….
Well, that rounds off the top ten local Kenyan web sites for January 2010. The other sites to look at are as follows:
11. Mambo: www.mambo.co.ke (Kenya Alex Rank: 50).
12. Webaraza: www.webaraza.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 53).
13. Best Jobs Kenya: www.bestjobskenya.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 61)
14. PataUza: www.patauza.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 66).
15. Haiya: www.haiya.co.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 68).
16. Orange Kenya: www.orange.co.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 69).
17. CareerPoint Kenya: www.careerpointkenya.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 73).
18. Nation Media Group: www.nationmedia.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 77).
19. Kenya Network Information Center (KeNIC): www.kenic.or.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank 78).
20. Jumuika: www.jumuika.co.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 79).
21. Mashada: www.mashada.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 80).
22. Safaricom: www.safaricom.co.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 83).
23. JengaWeb: www.jengaweb.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 87).
24. Uza Nunua: www.uzanunua.com (Kenya Alexa Rank: 94).
25. Higher Education Loans Board (HELB): www.helb.co.ke (Kenya Alexa Rank: 95).
This list is quite precise, I like it. It’s interesting how Kenyan sites are really multiplying and the competition you mentioned before, the “me too” offers from ISPs, seems we are just getting started
.-= Peter wa The O.K´s last blog ..Kenyan Local TV Programs =-.
Moses, im surprised the safaricom mobile site http://www.safaricom.com is not on the list. I dont think there is a website that has been advertised more than this. Does it mean safaricoms walled garden attempt has failed and that wap browsers are assuming their “home” site as they access the mobile internet?
@ambrose its hard to tell really. I’ll wait to see the next Opera SMW report to see what the rankings for Kenya look like.
I find it intersting that you note this about the safaricom mobile site. Personally, I do everything to avoid it whenever I browse on my phone. There is simply no reason to access the site. Why all the advertising though?
And not forgetting http://softkenya.com Kenya’s most comprehensive information guide.
.-= Gachie´s last blog ..afyakenya.com =-.
I am the creator of KenyanLyrics.com.
There are serious legal implications of having such a site, which has diverted a big chunk of our legal and marketing teams’ attention.
I also focused on design first before going into money-making. I think this approach has paid off, because I do believe that KenyanLyrics.com is one of the best lyrics sites in the world. Try compare it’s design with other lyrics sites around the world, there are few that come close. The final template will be unleashed soon.
.-= Mr. Majani´s last blog ..Teenagers’ Anthem =-.
The rankings are a great reminder of the tough realities! Allow me a quick comparison with South Africa equivalents. Absa and Standard bank seem to be featuring prominently out there. I am tempted to think that our banks are seriously lagging behind with respect to online banking. I also think the prominence of bidorbuy in SA means e-commerce is much more entrenched in that economy. I also think the entry into the foray of kenyanlyrics.com is very welcome – a very natural trend with the internet increasingly being a way of life in Kenya.
.-= gmeltdown´s last blog ..M-PESA Fraud – Agents Beware! =-.
It is nice to see IT company’s who know how to SEO make the list. another site moving up the rankings very fast is http://www.propertyleo.com and i predict it will be in your next top 25.
This proves your earlier point that there is demand for Kenyan content. You build it, they will come!
.-= Kenyan Music´s last blog ..Ka Fathe goyo Mathe to Mathe mare =-.
I definitely like this and the mention of the local content drives up my adrenaline.Good work Moses! watch out whats coming up soon!
Thumps up Moses! This is encouraging and do hope some days,others are going to work hard to improve their websites so to be rank on top.Visit mine here: http://malokmading.newwweblab.com
Keep it up!
I have a feeling that Kenyans are about to meet a giant website that’s going to blow there minds.Not only is http://www.whatson.co.ke carrying all the VIP information of what’s hot in Kenya, It’s also linked to other sites like http://www.autobazaar.co.ke and http://kilakitu.co.ke which provide you with everything Kenyan.Classy right? check it out, its worth it.
This list is quite precise, I like it. It’s interesting how Kenyan sites are really multiplying and the competition be on the lookout for Kenya’s tob property website Propertyleo
also i can see href=”http://www.jengaweb.com”>Jengawebmoving up the ladder steadily.
Great Job, its would be good if you can extend the list to top 50…
It is with much joy to see kenyan brands our very own toping such big slots on alexa. Could kenya be another budding dot com industry with konzacity technology city coming up? They should have free offices there for dot com firms.. dont forget kenyas dating social media, http://www.lovepot.com though they have not done much marketing to hit the top alxa.
I wonder what criteria is used…the list is much compromising as compared to the alexa reports….how often do you update the list?
@habel this is a very old list. Its clearly time to update it.
This is quite an old listing Moses and needs updating. New players have come up while others have gone. Internet website ranking is very dynamic and changes daily.
@marto noted. I will be updating this list within the next week or two. Thanks for the prompt.
I waiting For The new List<because this the old list
And Please add Some Criteria for the list
thanks
@indraw this is work in progress for the holidays