Adoption In Kenya

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.

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

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

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/

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.