Adoption In Kenya

29/09/2021

1. ELIGIBILITY FOR ADOPTION IN KENYA AS OF 2020
a) Nationality – Kenyan by Birth, Marriage, Acquired Citizenship. Note that at the time of preparing this guide, the Moratorium previously passed banning foreigners from adopting in Kenya was still in force.
b) Status - Single or Married in compliance with the relevant Laws (proof will be required). Note that joint applicants who are not married to each other are disqualified from adopting.
c) Gender – If you are a Single Female, you may adopt child of any gender. If Male first-time applicant, you are limited to adopting a boy. Thereafter, applicants can adopt a child of the opposite gender. A couple can adopt a baby of any gender.
d) Age – Applicant should be above 25 years but not more than 65 years, and at least 21 years older than the child you intend to adopt.
e) Health- Proof that you are in good health, such that you can care and raise the child, especially that you are of sound mind as per the Mental Health Act.
f) Background/Record – Persons tried and convicted of offences against children are disqualified from adopting.
g) Financial Capacity – Proof that you can provide all the Child’s basic needs,
including Shelter, food, clothing, health, and education.
h) Sexual Identity – Persons who identify as LGBTQ are disqualified from adopting.
i) Consent- Depending on the unique circumstances of the Adoption, consent may be required by your spouse, the Child’s family, or the child’s biological parent(s), where their identity is known, step-parents who have acquired parental responsibility over the child, the child’s mother’s parents or guardian(s) if the mother is a minor, and the child themselves if they are above 14 years old.
j) Particulars of the child – must be at least 6 weeks old and above, of Kenyan nationality and must have lived with you, being under your care and control for at least 3 consecutive months before an adoption order can be granted.

29/09/2021

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO ADOPTION, JUST LIKE THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO BIRTHING A CHILD. IT IS A PROCESS, YOU MUST BE READY, YOU MUST BE FIT, YOU MUST BE WILLING TO BE IN IT FOR THE LONG HAUL.

If you wish to adopt, get in touch with a registered adoption agency or registered children's home (We will share this information soon).

If you are in a situation where you are considering to give your baby up for adoption, note the following CLEARLY:
1. You will go through mandatory counselling.
2. Your reasons for giving your child up for adoption will be weighed.
3. You will not and I REPEAT NOT be given or offered any money.
4. You will give up ALL your rights to that Child.
5. You CANNNOT undo the Adoption Process.
6. Your child will be homed AWAY from you, until adoption is complete.
7.The child's father, his relatives or your relatives are the best first people to talk to about Adoption. Their CONSENT will be required and they can OPPOSE the Adoption.
8. If you expect, demand, or take money in exchange for your child, you will be REPORTED, ARRESTED, PROSECUTED AND JAILED.
9. You will be required to present yourself to COURT.

Girls, Ladies, Women, lets be sober about this subject. We are addressing you humans of the female gender for reasons very obvious.

If you want to adopt a child, contact a registered adoption Agency or a registered Children's home. They will (the Agency) assess your suitability and fitness for adoption. You then will be required to present yourself in court till the process is final.

As an Adoptive parent, NOTE THE FOLLOWING (read together with our earlier post on eligibility)
1. You CANNOT UNDO the Adoption.
2. The child will take your last name and is legally considered your child for all means.
3. You are fully responsible for that child. You will and must provide for all the needs of the child.
4. The child is your heir and is rightfully and legally entitled to inherit you.
5. RE-MARRYING will not affect the legitimacy of the Adoption.
6. If Adopting as a couple, ensure that your spouse in 100% onboard with adopting.
7. If you ARE NOT A KENYAN CITIZEN, do not engage in adopting a child from Kenya. The Moratorium against foreigners adopting in and from Kenya is still in place.

29/09/2021

CLEAN-UP IN PROGRESS.
WE AIM TO OFFER PARENTAL CARE FOR CHILDREN IN AN ETHICAL MANNER. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

29/09/2021

WARNING!! IT IS ILLEGAL TO OFFER A CHILD A CHILD FOR ADOPTION IN EXCHANGE FOR MONEY. IT IS ILLEGAL TO OFFER MONEY IN EXCHANGE FOR A CHILD. CHILDREN ARE NOT A COMMODITY. THAT SAID. WE NOTE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE ENGAGING IN THIS PRACTICE ON AND OFF THIS PAGE. YOU WILL BE REPORTED TO THE RELEVANT AUTHORITY AND WILL BE BLOCKED AND BANNED.

Moving forward, we are answering all messages sent to us, in good time.

05/01/2021

Amalia G once said that - Family is not defined by our genes, it is built and maintained through love.

26/04/2017

Thank you all for stopping by. We trust that you are well. For those who inboxed us, we replied efficiently and effectively ...however, if we overlooked your message, do let us know and we shall respond. Know that this is a supportive page, therefore questions, concerns and comments are welcome. Feel free to share your adoption story..sure someone needs to hear it. We shall be updating this page with new information, as it comes to us. Cheers.

24/05/2016

Thank you all for your continued interest and support. If you have any questions regarding Adoption, post it here or private message us. We are more than happy to help.

26/04/2016

07/04/2016

Truth be told, Adoption Agencies play the biggest role in the Adoption process. Therefore, it is important to choose the Agency that will serve you best.

Based on opinions from adoptive parents, here are the top 3 Agencies in Kenya.

1. Little Angels Network - https://www.facebook.com/lanskenya/?fref=ts

2. Buckner Kenya - http://www.buckner.org/missions/buckner-missions-kenya

3. Kenya Children's Home Adoption Society - http://www.kchadopt.org/

21/03/2016

Adoption process In Kenya
The process may vary depending on the Agency you chose to work with and from time to time, they may decide to change up the procedure.

This is a rough guide to give you an idea of what to expect, generally.

Step 1: Identify an Adoption Agency to work with. I will soon post a list of approved Adoption Agencies 2016.

Step 2: Make an appointment for an initial interview.

Step 3: Formal application. The Agency will give you forms to fill and ask you to present specific documents to support your application.

Step 4:The agency will assign an officer to visit your home to check on suitability.

Step 5: You will be required to take a medical test to prove your medical fitness. Some agencies will require that you take this test with a doctor recommended by them.

Step 6:The agency’s committee will consider your application and all supporting documents. The committee may either approve, reject or defer your application.

Step 7: If your application is successful, you will be required to undergo counselling with a recommended counsellor.

Step 8: The agency will then match you to a suitable child. Please note that you cannot choose which child to adopt, apart from the child’s age and gender. I will cover this in a post later.

Step 9: You will make at least 6 visits to the children’s home within a period of 1-2 weeks. It is during this period that you will first bond with the child. It will also be an opportunity to have the child undergo medical check up to confirm medical status of the child.

Step 10: You will be able to go home with the child, for further bonding. This is for a minimum period of 3 months.

Step 11: The adoption agency will make 3 home visits to check on the child and the progress of bonding. The first visit is usually within the first month, 2nd visit on the second month and last visit on the 3rd month.

Step 12: After getting consent from the agency to begin the legal part of the adoption, you can then engage a lawyer to represent you in court. Note that some agencies have a list of recommended law firms to engage, although the choice of advocate/lawyer/law firm is totally up to you.

Step 13: After the Court grants your adoption application, you can then apply for requite documents for your child. This includes Birth certificate and passport.

Have any questions or additional information? send me a message and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

10/03/2016

DOS and DONTS of Adoption and other things to consider.

If you want to have a pleasant and successful adoption process, keep the following in mind.

1. Certainty
Be sure that you want to adopt. Search within yourself, for reasons why you want to adopt. Make all effort to understand your duties and responsibilities towards the child. Know that you cannot change your mind once you adopt. Make sure that your family is in support of you adopting and that they will receive and care for the child as though the child were biologically yours.

2. Formality
Do not solicit a child to adopt from anyone or any agency other than those legally recognized to offer children for adoption.

3. Money
Do not offer money to parents/guardians/relatives of the child you seek to adopt. It is illegal.

4. Consent
If the child has known parents/guardian or relatives, make sure they have given their consent in writing for you to adopt the child.

5. Formal Declaration
Do not take the child from the children’s home or current place of residence before the child has been declared free for adoption or without consent. Your adoption application will be denied.

6. Medical
Ensure you have the child you intend to adopt undergo medical test with your preferred medical provider. Find out as much of the child’s history as you can. You will need to understand if the child has current or potential medical situations that require extra care, just so that you can be mentally and financially ready to provide adequate medical care.

7. Bond
Be honest about bonding. Do you really, truly and positively believe that you and the child have bonded? If not, please speak with your adoption agency. They will help you.

8. Guardian (s)
Pick the best Guardian (second Mom or Dad) you can, for the child. This person is legally tasked with the duty of taking over your parental responsibility in case you are not able to care for the child or if you pass on.

9. Inheritance
Make a will and ensure you include the child as a beneficiary. We have all heard of tall tales that creep up during inheritance laws.

10. Openness
Decide how to handle your child’s questions about their origin. Will you tell them that they were adopted? Are you ready to handle their reaction and your relationship with them if it changes?

11. Right to Privacy
Have a word with your family, current close neighbours and current workers (especially domestic workers – house helps, Shamba boys, drivers, Security). If they know you are adopting, sensitize how they are to deal with your child and ensure they respect your privacy.

12. Support
If you are married, ensure that your spouse is 100000% on board with the adoption. When parents fight, children suffer.

13. Do not expect to choose the child you adopt. The agency and home work together to match you with the child they deem you compatible with.

Have successfully adopted? Do you have any other do's and dont's you would add to the list?