[2018] KEHC 2835 (KLR)
The court found that while the Children Act does not expressly prohibit a guardian ad litem from being appointed as a legal guardian, it is prudent to separate the two roles to ensure objectivity and avoid potential conflicts of interest, especially where the individual is a blood relative of the applicants....
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 2835 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: P K M; Applicant: S K M
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nakuru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Adoption Cause 31 of 2017
- Procedural Posture
- Adoption Cause / Ruling on Appointment of Legal Guardian and Review of Judgment
- Outcome
- Originating summons allowed in terms of prayers 5, 6, 7 and 8; judgment of 19th September, 2018 reviewed accordingly.
- Legal Topics
- Adoption Procedure, Guardianship, Best Interests of Child
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
P K M
Applicant
S K M
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Adoption Cause / Ruling on Appointment of Legal Guardian and Review of Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether a guardian ad litem can be appointed as a legal guardian at the conclusion of the adoption process.
- 2 Whether the appointment of a blood relative as both guardian ad litem and legal guardian is contrary to the Children Act, 2001.
- 3 Whether the best interests of the child are served by separating the roles of guardian ad litem and legal guardian.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that while the Children Act does not expressly prohibit a guardian ad litem from being appointed as a legal guardian, it is prudent to separate the two roles to ensure objectivity and avoid potential conflicts of interest, especially where the individual is a blood relative of the applicants. However, considering the advanced stage of the proceedings, the favourable reports from all relevant authorities, the consent of the legal guardian, and the paramountcy of the child's best interests as enshrined in Article 53(2) of the Constitution, the court exercised its discretion to review its earlier judgment and allow the adoption to proceed as prayed in the originating summons....
Court Disposition
Originating summons allowed in terms of prayers 5, 6, 7 and 8; judgment of 19th September, 2018 reviewed accordingly.
Orders
- The originating summons dated 7th July, 2017 is allowed in terms of prayers 5, 6, 7 and 8.
- The judgment of the court dated 19th September, 2018 is reviewed as per this ruling.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
33 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAKURU
ADOPTION CAUSE NUMBER 31 OF 2017
IN THE MATTER OF BABY D O a.k.a. J D M..............................INFANT
AND
P K M....................................................................................1ST APPLICANT
S K M...................................................................................2ND APPLICANT
RULING
1. In its judgment dated 19th September, 2018, the Court made a finding that as per the report of the County Children Coordinator filed herein, an appropriate legal guardian needed to be appointed from a person who is not a blood relative of the applicants.
2. The County Children’s Coordinator Nakuru in his report dated 29/6/2018 stated;
“…… An adoption would therefore be in his best interest of the child who has lived with the prospective adoptive parents since 17th March, 2017.
Except, there are unresolved issues;
The issue of appointment of Guardian ad litem and legal guardian as it is the same person R C M who is a sister and sister in law to the joint applicants respectively contrary to Section 160 & 164 of the Children Act, 2001.
The Director Children’s Services opinion is that the same person appointed for the two (guardian ad litem and legal guardian) cannot serve as a friend of the child successfully as there will be conflict of interest as a blood relationship exist with the applicants. A request be put that the honourable court requests that the issue to be properly addressed as per the law and then the Director Children’s Services will recommend for the adoption that P K M and S K M, joint applicants be allowed to adopt Baby D O O, a female child whom they propose to name her as J D M. It is however to the discretion of High Court my Lordship/Ladyship to make the final decision.”
3. Mrs. Wanderi, counsel for the applicants submitted that the Children Coordinator relies on Sections 160 and 164of the Children Act. She asserts that she fails to see what prejudice arises to have guardianad litem appointed a legal guardian. The report is in favour of the applicant. She asserts that the issue of “guardianad litem” is now spent.
4. The provisions of Section 160and164 of the Children Act do not expressly bar a guardianad litem from being appointed a legal guardian at the conclusion of the adoption process.
5. One needs, however, to put into account the duties of a guardian ad litem as set out under Section 160 (2), (a), (b), (c), (d)and(e). I reproduce the Section here;
“S. 160. Guardian ad litem for the child
(2) It shall be the duty of the guardianad litemto—
(a) safeguard the interests of the child pending the determination of the adoption proceedings;
(b) investigate and apprise the court as to the circumstances pertinent to the adoption of the child in the prescribed manner;
(c) make recommendations as to the propriety of making any interim orders or an adoption order in respect of the child;
(d) intervene on behalf of the child and arrange for the care of the child in the event of the withdrawal of any consent prescribed by this Act;
(e) undertake such duties as the court may from time to time direct or as may be prescribed by the rules made under this Part.”
6. In a nutshell, those duties are geared towards protecting the interests of the minor during the adoption process.
7. There is therefore need to have appointed to this role, a person who would be objective and not inclined to be swayed by the wishes of the prospective adoptive parents. That is not to say that a blood relative of the prospective adoptive parents cannot suffice. It cannot be gainsaid, however, that a neutral person unrelated to the applicants would more probably than not exhibit more objectivity and be insulated from any bias that may favour the applicants against the best interests of the minor.
8. The children coordinator’s view on the objectivity of the guardianad litem who is a close blood relative with the applicants is not completely without merit.
9. Again, much as there is no legal provision barring a guardian ad litem being appointed a legal guardian at the tail end of the adoption process, in my view it would be a prudent measure to separate the two (2) roles. These two (2) roles are distinct and separate and each have distinct roles where one is to protect the interests of the child as the adoption process goes on while the other is to take care of the child in the event the adoptive parents die of are unable to take care of the child.
10. So which way this matter? Noting the far this matter has gone and alive to the fact that all reports including the report of the Children County Coordinator are in favour of the adoption herein, and noting that requiring the appointment of a new guardian ad litem or a legal guardian would result to a hearing de novo, and further noting that the legal guardian herein has consented to the appointment and emboldened by Article 53(2)of theConstitution which places the best interests of a child as paramount in every matter concerning a child, I proceed to review the judgment of Court dated 19th September, 2018 and allow the originating summons dated 7th July, 2017 in terms of prayers 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Dated and Signed at Nakuru this 17th day of October, 2018.
A. K. NDUNG’U
JUDGE