KENET is the National Research and Education Network (NREN) of Kenya. It is therefore recognized by  Internet Governance bodies as an NREN and peers directly or indirectly with all other similar NRENs  Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. This means that any educator or researcher within the KENET network has access to open education and research resources and databases available in all  NRENs. As a physical network, KENET is licensed by the Communications Commission of Kenya (CCK)  an  Network Facilities Provider allowing it to setup a National Private Network of all Education and Research Institutes.

KENET is a not-for-profit membership organization and is registered a Trust under the Perpetual Succession Act with five Vice Chancellors as Trustees. Other Trustees include a representative from research institutes (Director General of ICIPE), the Permanent Secretary in charge of Higher Education and the Director General of CCK. It is run on a day-to-day basis by a Management Board that represents faculty and founder institutions (five universities). The beneficiaries are the member institutions, including the academic staff, researchers and students.

KENET already has 130 campuses that includes all the major public and private universities, university colleges, international and local research institutes (e.g., KEMRI. KARI, ILRI. ICIPE).