[2016] KEHC 911 (KLR)
The court found that the applicants had satisfied all statutory requirements for adoption under the Children Act, including suitability, financial and emotional capacity, and the absence of any criminal record or chronic illness. The child was lawfully declared free for adoption after all efforts to trace the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2016] KEHC 911 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: FAO; Applicant: MAA
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kisii
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Adoption Cause 1 of 2014
- Procedural Posture
- Adoption Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- adoption granted
- Judges
- WA Okwany
- Legal Topics
- Adoption Procedure, Child Custody, Legal Guardianship
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
FAO
Applicant
MAA
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Adoption Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicants have met the legal requirements for adoption under the Children Act.
- 2 Whether the adoption is in the best interests of the child.
- 3 Whether the appointment of legal guardians is appropriate.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicants had satisfied all statutory requirements for adoption under the Children Act, including suitability, financial and emotional capacity, and the absence of any criminal record or chronic illness. The child was lawfully declared free for adoption after all efforts to trace the biological parents failed. The applicants had provided care and custody for a sufficient period, and the pre-placement home study report recommended the adoption. The court determined that granting the adoption order and appointing the proposed legal guardians was in the best interests of the child, who would benefit from a stable family environment and legal recognition as the...
Court Disposition
adoption granted
Orders
- The applicants FAO and MAA are authorized to adopt EA, who shall be known as ENAA.
- SO and LO are appointed legal guardians of the child.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
21 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA AT KISII
ADOPTION CAUSE 01 OF 2014(O.S)
IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION UNDER SECTION 154 OF THE CHILDREN ACT
AND
IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTION OF E.A AGED 2 YEARS.
BY
MR.FAO AND MRS. MAA....................APPLICANTS
JUDGMENT
1. The applicants FAO and MAA are seeking to be authorized to adopt baby EA and upon making the adoption the child be known asENAA. They also pray that SAO and LAO be appointed the legal guardians of the child.
2. The applicants are Kenyan citizens born in 1968 and 1973 respectively. The parties were married customarily in February 1992 and later swore an affidavit of marriage on 4th August 2004. However, Francis later took a second wife whom he married customarily in August 2011.
3. The baby herein was abandoned by an unknown person at Nyalenda Estate in a homestead of one B O at around 2. 00a.m on 9th March, 2012. The said B O rescued the child and reported the incident at Central Police Station on the same day, whereby the matter was recorded vide Occurrence Book number19/9/3/2012. The child was later taken to New Life Home Trust- Kisumu and was committed by Senior Resident Magistrate at Winam in Kisumu vide Protection and Care case number 253/2012 for a period of 3 years on 6th June, 2012 . The final letter from the Department of Kenya Police dated 13th September, 2012 indicated that efforts to trace the child’s biological parents had been fruitless. The child was declared free for adoption on 3rd October 2012 and a certificate of declaring a child free for adoption was issued which was serial number [particulars withheld]. The child was committed to the applicants for care and custody from 22nd October, 2012 to date.
4. The Little Angels Network filed a pre placement home study report dated 20th June, 2012. The report reveals that the applicants have no chronic illness and that they have received support from their extended family members. The applicants also have no criminal record and have both attended a pre-adoption counselling. The report further reveals the applicants are financially capable to provide for the child. That they are mature, responsible and emotionally capable of taking care of the child and they have the support of their wider family members. The report recommends the adoption.
5. On 24th October 2016, the 1st applicant herein FAO gave oral evidence before this court and stated that they got the child from New Life Family home on January 2012 when child was about nine (9) months old. The child has been with the applicants since then and he is currently attending nursery school in Rongo town. He further stated that no one has claimed for the child since they started living with him. The 1st applicant stated that he is a teacher by profession employed by the Teachers Service Commission, and a part time lecturer at a Teachers Training College. He further revealed that he has a daughter aged about nineteen years from a different mother. He also stated that he wished to call the child ENA. He prayed that this court grants them an adoption order so that the child can be their legal son to enable them process his birth certificate which will be a crucial document in registering him for school. Lastly, he proposed SO and LO to be made guardians of the child.
6. This is a local adoption and it is evident that the applicants have fulfilled all the legal requirements relating to the adoption of the child. This court is satisfied that the applicants are qualified and able to take care of the child. I allow the application for adoption. The Applicants FAO and MOA are hereby allowed to adopt EA and he shall be known as ENAA. SOOand LAOshall be appointed legal guardians to the child. I direct the Registrar General to enter this order in the adoption register. The child was born in Kenya and is therefore a Kenyan by birth and is entitled to all the rights that accrue to Kenyan citizens under the Kenya Constitution 2010 and the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act. I hereby discharge the Guardian ad litem. It is so ordered.
Dated, signed and delivered in open court this 13th day of December, 2016
HON. W. A. OKWANY
JUDGE
In the presence of:
Mr. Moracha for the Petitioner
Omwoyo court clerk