[2025] KEHC 9041 (KLR)
The court found that the applicant had fulfilled all statutory requirements for adoption under the Children Act, 2022. The child, having been abandoned and declared free for adoption, had been under the applicant's continuous care and had bonded well with her. All relevant reports from the Guardian ad Litem, the...
Source-derived case information.
- Citation
- [2025] KEHC 9041 (KLR)
- Parties
- Applicant: JNL
- Court
- High Court
- Court Station
- High Court at Machakos
- Jurisdiction
- Kenya
- Case Number
- Adoption Cause E020 of 2023
- Procedural Posture
- Adoption Cause / Judgment
- Outcome
- application allowed; adoption order granted
- Judges
- EN Maina
- Legal Topics
- Adoption of Children, Best Interests of Child, Abandoned Children, Adoption Procedure
- Source Language
- en
Source-derived case record
Summary, issues, holding and outcome
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Parties
JNL
Applicant
Procedural Posture
Adoption Cause / Judgment
Legal Issues
- 1 Whether the applicant meets the legal requirements for adoption under the Children Act, 2022.
- 2 Whether the adoption is in the best interests of the child as required by law.
- 3 Whether all statutory reports and consents have been duly filed and considered.
Ratio Decidendi
The court found that the applicant had fulfilled all statutory requirements for adoption under the Children Act, 2022. The child, having been abandoned and declared free for adoption, had been under the applicant's continuous care and had bonded well with her. All relevant reports from the Guardian ad Litem, the adoption society, and the Directorate of Children’s Services recommended the adoption. The applicant demonstrated financial stability, understanding of adoption implications, and willingness to assume parental responsibilities. The court concluded that the adoption was in the best interests of the child and satisfied the legal conditions for granting an adoption order.
Court Disposition
application allowed; adoption order granted
Orders
- The applicant is allowed to adopt the child and an adoption order shall issue.
- The child shall now be known as Angel Mwende Nthambi.
Full Case Text
Judgment text and source record
28 paragraphs
In re WA (Child) (Adoption Cause E020 of 2023) [2025] KEHC 9041 (KLR) (26 June 2025) (Judgment)
Neutral citation: [2025] KEHC 9041 (KLR)
Republic of Kenya
In the High Court at Machakos
Adoption Cause E020 of 2023
EN Maina, J
June 26, 2025
N THE MATTER OF THE CHILDREN ACT, 2022 AND IN THE MATTER OF BABY WA (CHILD) AND IN THE MATTER OF APPLICATION FOR ADOPTION BY:
In the matter of
JNL
Applicant
Judgment
1. The child in these proceedings is a girl now aged six and a half (6½) years (estimated to be born on 17th September 2018). She was found abandoned on 21st September 2018 at Kawangware Elshadai and rescued by a good samaritan who took her to a voluntary children Officer namely Mary Wamaitha of Mobile Phone No. 072XXXX320. The said good samaritan later reported the matter to Muthangari police station and an OB No. 41/21/09/2018 was issued.
2. On 24th September 2018 the child was admitted at Angel Center for abandoned children for care and protection.
3. On 15th July 2022, the Muthangari Police Station wrote the Angel Centre – Waithaka and stated that tracing the child’s kin had proved futile.
4. Subsequently, the Senior Magistrate Children Court at Nairobi committed the child to the Angel Center for Abandoned children for a period of three (3) years vide Care and Protection Case No. E340 of 2022. The order was extended for a further three (3) years on 15th July 2022. The child was never claimed.
5. In a meeting held on 22nd July 2022 the case Committee of the Little Angels Network declared the child free for adoption and issued a certificate No.002280 to that effect.
6. The Applicant herein JNL (Single Applicant) had approached the Little Angels Network Adoption Society on 2nd May 2019 with an intention to adopt a female child aged 4 years and below. On 8th August 2022 the child was placed in the care of the Applicant and she had been fostering the child since then.
7. The Applicant is currently a business lady with a monthly income from her business and rentals therefore financially stable. She resides in her family home. She does not have any biological child of her own but is fostering another child aged 10 years whose adoption process in ongoing.
8. The following reports have been duly filed in regard to the adoption.-a.Report of the Guardian Ad Litem.b.Reports from the Little Angels Network Adoption Society declaring the child free for adoption and also recommending the adoption.c.Report of the Directorate of Children’s Services – Sub County Children Services–Machakos also reco-mmending the adoption.d.Consent of LWM and DML to act as the Legal Guardians.
9. All the reports recommend this adoption which is a family based and local adoption. The child has been under the continuous care of the Applicant since 8th August 2022 and they have bonded well and Guardian ad litem highly recommends her as an adoptive parent.
10. Having carefully considered all the material before me, I am satisfied that the adoption meets the conditions of part XIV of the Children Act and is in the best interest of the child. The Applicant fully understands the implications of an order of adoption and has already assumed her responsibilities. She has met all the conditions of an adopter set out in the Act.
11. Accordingly, the application is allowed and orders are granted as follows: -1. That the Applicant be and is hereby allowed to adopt the child and an adoption order shall issue.2. That the child shall now be known as ANGEL MWENDE NTHAMBI. 3. The child’s date of birth shall be 17th September 2018.
4. That DML and LWM are hereby appointed as the Legal Guardians of the child.
5. That the Guardian Ad Litem is hereby discharged
6. That this adoption order shall be lodged with the Registrar General and the Registrar General is hereby directed to enter the adoption in the Adopted Children Register.
It is so ordered.
JUDGMENT DATED, SIGNED AND DELIVERED VIRTUALLY ON THIS 26TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025. E. N. MAINAJUDGEIn the presence of:Mr. Kamenju for ApplicantApplicant not presentGeoffrey - Court Assistant