Kenly is a town in Johnston and Wilson counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina.

The community was settled in about 1875,[5] developing along the "Short-Cut" rail line of the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad.

[7] In 1897, the community's first school, Kenly Academy, a private boarding institution, was established.

[8] In July 2022, all five members of Kenly's police force resigned, citing a "hostile work environment", allegedly created by the newly appointed town manager.

[12] A small portion of the town extends into the southwest corner of Wilson County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Kenly has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2), of which 1.609 acres (6,513 m2), or 0.16%, are water.

[15] Kenly is the home of the Eastern North Carolina Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) State Executive Offices and Conference Center.