[2018] KEHC 8266 (KLR)
The court found that the applicants had fulfilled all statutory requirements for adoption under the Children's Act, 2001. The child was abandoned, and all reasonable efforts to trace his biological parents or relatives were unsuccessful. The applicants demonstrated financial stability and suitability as adoptive...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2018] KEHC 8266 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: J K K; Applicant: L W K; Infant: M D a.k.a P K K
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Nakuru
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Adoption Cause 21 of 2010
- Procedural Posture
- Adoption Cause / Ruling
- Outcome
- adoption granted
- Judges
- AG Ndung'u
- Legal Topics
- Adoption Procedure, Child Welfare, Parental Rights
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
J K K
Applicant
L W K
Applicant
M D a.k.a P K K
Infant
Procedural Posture
Adoption Cause / Ruling
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicants meet the legal requirements to adopt the child under the Children's Act.
- 2 Whether the adoption is in the best interests of the child.
- 3 Whether due process regarding the child's abandonment and eligibility for adoption has been followed.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicants had fulfilled all statutory requirements for adoption under the Children's Act, 2001. The child was abandoned, and all reasonable efforts to trace his biological parents or relatives were unsuccessful. The applicants demonstrated financial stability and suitability as adoptive parents, as evidenced by favourable reports from the Child Welfare Society of Kenya and the Sub County Children's Officer. The child had been declared free for adoption, and the adoption was deemed to be in his best interests. Accordingly, the court authorized the adoption and directed the Registrar of Births and Deaths to register the child as adopted and issue a new birth...
Court Disposition
adoption granted
Orders
- The applicants are authorized to adopt Baby M D, who shall be known as P K K.
- The Registrar of Births and Deaths is to make the appropriate entries in the adopted children's register and issue a Certificate of Birth in the name of P K K.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
31 paragraphs
REPUBLIC OF KENYA
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KENYA
AT NAKURU
ADOPTION CAUSE NUMBER 21 OF 2010
IN THE MATTER OF M D a.k.a
P K K............................INFANT
AND
J K K
L W K…............APPLICANTS
RULING
The Application is brought by way of Originating Summons and is dated the 17th November, 2010. The Applicants JKK and LWK seek the following orders:
1. Spent
2. Spent
3. THAT the Applicants be authorized to adopt Baby M D to be known as P K K.
4. THAT the Registrar of Births and Deaths do register the child as an adopted child and issue a Certificate of Birth in the name of P K K.
5. THAT costs be borne by the Applicants
The applicants are husband and wife. They do both crop and dairy farming for their daily upkeep. They got married in 1996 under the Kikuyu Customary Law and had their marriage solemnized under the African Christian Marriage and Divorce Act (CAP 151) at P.C.E.A. Baraka Church in Nyandarua District on the 3rd January, 2009 where they were issued with a Certificate of Marriage serial No.xxxxx.
They have never been blessed with a biological child of their own due to health complication hence the desire to adopt baby MD a.k.a PKKwho was placed and has been living with the them since 18th July, 2009.
Baby MD a.k.a PKK was presumably born in April, 2008. He was found abandoned on 25th June 2008 by a Good Samaritan at Mawanga Estate in Nakuru. The matter was recorded to Nakuru Police Station vide OB No. xxxxx. Baby MD a.k.a PKK was later taken to Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK), Arap Moi Chidren’s Home, Nakuru for further care and protection. On 29th December, 2010 Baby MD a.k.a PKK was officially committed to the same institution as a child in need of care and protection vide Nakuru Children's Court P & C Case Number 22 of 2011.
By a letter dated 7th August 2011, the Nakuru Police Station asserted that the parents or relatives of the child cannot be traced and none appeared to claim the child.
On the 17th November, 2010 the Court ordered the Director of Children's Services and the Child Welfare Society of Kenya Nakuru Branch to conduct investigations as to the suitability of the applicants to adopt baby MD a.k.a PKK. OneC Wof Upper Gilgil was also appointed as Guardian Ad Litemof babyMD a.k.a PKK.
The Child Welfare Society of Kenya on home visit filed a favourable report dated 5th November, 2012 on the suitability of the Applicants to adopt baby MD a.k.a PKK.On 8th November the Child Welfare Adoption Case Committee in its sitting issued a Certificate of Declaring a Child Free for Adoption Serial Number xxx pursuant to Section 156(1) of the Children's Act 2001 dated 8th November, 2012.
Gladys Langat, Sub County Children's Officer Nyandarua after conducting investigations by visiting and interrogating the Applicants filed a favourable report in court dated 10th April 2017 on the Applicants' suitability to adopt Baby MD a.k.a PKK.
Upon reading the above report and satisfying myself that all the legal requirements have been adhered to, this court is satisfied that the applicants are suitable persons to adopt Baby MD a.k.a PKKand that they are also financially stable and have the means to provide and care for him.
For the above reasons, the Court hereby order as follows:
1. The Applicants are hereby authorized to adopt Baby MD and be known as P K K.
2. The Registrar of Births and Deaths do make the appropriate entries in the adopted children's register and issue a Certificate of Birth in the name of P K K.
Orders accordingly.
Dated and Signed at Kisii this 22nd day of January, 2018.
A. K. NDUNG'U
JUDGE