[2018] KEHC 5020 (KLR)
The court found that the applicants satisfied all statutory requirements for adoption, including suitability assessments and social investigations. The child, having been abandoned and declared free for adoption, did not require parental consent. The applicants had cared for the child since 2006, establishing a...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 5020 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: I M N; Applicant: F I M
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Kitui
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Adoption Cause 5 of 2016
- Procedural Posture
- Adoption Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- application allowed
- Judges
- LN Mutende
- Legal Topics
- Adoption Order, Child Abandonment, Best Interests of Child
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
I M N
Applicant
F I M
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Adoption Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicants meet the legal requirements for adoption under Kenyan law.
- 2 Whether the consent of the biological parents is necessary given the abandonment of the child.
- 3 Whether the adoption is in the best interests of the child.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicants satisfied all statutory requirements for adoption, including suitability assessments and social investigations. The child, having been abandoned and declared free for adoption, did not require parental consent. The applicants had cared for the child since 2006, establishing a strong bond. The reports from the guardian ad litem and the Director of Children’s Services were favorable, confirming that the adoption would serve the child's best interests. Accordingly, the court authorized the adoption, appointed a legal guardian, and directed the Registrar General to make the necessary entry in the Adoption Register.
Court Disposition
application allowed
Orders
- The applicants are authorized to adopt Baby M, who shall henceforth be known as M K I.
- J V M is appointed as the legal guardian of the child.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
23 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT KITUI
ADOPTION CAUSE NO. 5 OF 2016
IN THE MATTER OF BABY M
ON APPLICATION FOR AN ADOPTION ORDER
AND
I M N )
F I M )..............................APPLICANTS
J U D G M E N T
1. By way of Originating Summons, I M Nand F I M,Applicants herein seek to adopt Baby Mto be known as M K Iand J V Mbe appointed as the Legal Guardian of the child.
2. The Applicants are adults who carry on business. They are married under the Kamba Customary Law. They have one biological daughter D N I,an adult who has two (2) children.
3. The subject child was born on 9th December, 2005and later abandoned at the Kenyatta National HospitalDoctor’s Plaza. He was rescued, treated and committed to the Happy Life Children’s Home Roysambuby the Nairobi Children Court on the 17th January, 2006. Subsequently he was declared free for adoption by the Kenya Children Home Adoption Society and a Certificate Serial No. [particulars withheld]issued on the 24thday of April, 2012.
4. At the outset, this Court appointed a guardian ad litem of the child, J N Mwho prepared a report that was filed in Court on the 6th February, 2018. The Director of Children’s Services through the County Children Coordinator, Kitui County, Mrs. Jacinta Mwinziprepared a report after conducting social investigations that is on record.
5. I have considered all the reports which are favourable to the Applicants who are stated to have met the adoption requirements for local adoption. The consent of the biological parents is not necessary as the child was abandoned and therefore his parents are unknown. The child was placed with the Applicants in 2006therefore have bonded well. It will therefore be in the best interest of the child to be adopted by the Applicants. In the premises I allow the application and order thus:
(i) The Applicants are hereby authorized to adopt Baby Mwho henceforth shall be known as M K I.
(ii) J V Mis appointed as the Legal Guardian of the child.
(iii) The Registrar General shall make an entry of this order in the Adoption Register.
(iv) The guardian ad litem is hereby discharged.
6. It is so ordered.
Dated, Signed and Delivered at Kitui this 26th day of July, 2018.
L. N. MUTENDE
JUDGE