[2018] KEHC 8342 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant, M W M, had complied with all statutory requirements for adoption under the Children Act. The minor, Baby B a.k.a. CNW, was confirmed to be abandoned and unclaimed, making her eligible for adoption. Investigations by the Kenya Children's Home Adoption Society and the guardian ad...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 8342 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: M W M; Applicant: M W M 2; Applicant: J N M
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nakuru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Adoption Cause 3 of 2013
- Procedural Posture
- Adoption Cause / Ruling
- Outcome
- adoption granted
- Judges
- AG Ndung'u
- Legal Topics
- Adoption of Children, Abandoned Children, Guardian Ad Litem Appointment
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
M W M
Applicant
M W M 2
Applicant
J N M
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Adoption Cause / Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant meets the legal requirements to adopt the minor.
- 2 Whether the minor is available for adoption under Kenyan law.
- 3 Whether the appointment of guardian ad litem is appropriate.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant, M W M, had complied with all statutory requirements for adoption under the Children Act. The minor, Baby B a.k.a. CNW, was confirmed to be abandoned and unclaimed, making her eligible for adoption. Investigations by the Kenya Children's Home Adoption Society and the guardian ad litem established the applicant's suitability and the best interests of the child would be served by the adoption. No objections were raised, and all procedural safeguards, including the appointment of a guardian ad litem and the filing of requisite reports, were observed. The court was satisfied that the adoption was lawful, appropriate, and in the child's best interests.
Court Disposition
adoption granted
Orders
- The 1st Applicant M W M is hereby authorised to adopt Baby B a.k.a. CNW.
- The Registrar of Births and Deaths to make appropriate entries in the adopted children's register and issue a certificate of birth in the name of CNW.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
32 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAKURU
ADOPTION CAUSE NO.3 OF 2013
IN THE MATTER OF B a.k.a
C N W....................................................................MINOR
AND
M W M.................................................1ST APPLICANT
M W M 2 & J N M...........................2ND APPLICANTS
RULING
The Application is brought by way of Originating Summons dated the 21st day of January, 2013. The Applicant MWMthrough her advocates, Njeri Njagua and Company Advocates seek the following orders:
1. That the 1st applicant MWM be authorized to adopt the subject herein Baby B a.k.a CNW.
2. That the 2nd Applicants MWM 2 and JNM be appointed guadian ad litem for the subject herein Baby B a.k.a. CNW
3. Spent
4. That the court be pleased to make any further orders as it may deem fit.
According to the Kenya Children's Home, the Applicant MWM is a Secretary by profession and works with [Particulars Withheld] Farm, Naivasha. She was once married but the marriage broke up because she was not blessed with a biological child of her own due to health complication hence the desire to adopt baby B a.k.a. CNW.
Baby B a.k.a. CNWwas presumably born on 25th April, 2010. She was found abandoned by the road side within Sinai Slums in Industrial Area at around 9p.m. by one Oscar Odula, a resident of Sinai and an employee of [Particulars Withheld] Lunga Lunga on his way back home from work on 1st May, 2010. She was estimated to be approximately seven (7) days old.
The matter was reported to the Industrial Area Police Station on the same day vide Occurence Book No. [Particulars Withheld]. The said police station by a letter dated 1st May, 2010 referred the minor to Thomas Barnado House where she was admitted for care and protection as an abandoned child and that is where she was given the name B.
On 18th June, 2010 Baby B a.k.a CNW was vide Senior Resident Magistrate's Children's Court at Nairobi P. & C. Case No.210 of 2010 officially committed to the same institution for care and protection.
By a letter dated 18th November, 2010 from the O.C.S., Industrial Area Police Station, it was confirmed that the police efforts to trace the relatives had yielded no fruits and that no one had claimed the child since she was reported abandoned.
On 23rd November, 2010 Baby B a.k.a. CNWwas officially placed with the applicant as per a copy of care and control agreement between the Thomas Barnado Children's Home and the applicant approved by the Kenya Children's Home Adoption Society where she has been todate.
The Kenya Children's Home Adoption Society's Adoption Committee in its sitting on 19th November, 2010 issued A Certificate Declaring a Child Free For Adoption Serial No. 595 dated the same day.
On the 20th February, 2014 Director, Children's Services, Office of the Deputy President, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development was directed by the court to investigate the Applicants' fitness to adopt and file a report. On the same date, MWM 2 and JNM (proposed guardian ad litem) both of P.O. Box 155, [Particulars Withheld] were also ordered to file a report on their suitability within 45 days.
The Kenya Children's Homes after conducting investigations by visiting and interrogating the Applicant filed a favourable report dated 2nd March, 2012 in court on the Applicant's suitability to adopt Baby B a.k.a CNW. The guardian ad litem also filed a suitable report dated 5th June, 2014. Upon reading the above report and satisfying myself that all the legal requirements have been adhered, this court is satisfied that the applicant is suitable to adopt Baby B a.k.a. CNW.
For the above reasons, the Court hereby orders as follows:
1. The 1st Applicant MWM is hereby authorised to adopt Baby B a.k.a. CNW.
2. The Registrar of Births and Deaths do make appropriate entries in the adopted childrens' register and issue a certificate of birth in the name of CNW.
Wanjiru Mubi be authorized to adopt the subject herein Baby B a.k.a CNW.
Orders accordingly.
Dated and Signed at Kisii this 22nd day of January, 2018.
A. K. NDUNG'U
JUDGE