IN THE MATTER OF BABY MF [2013] KEHC 3988 (KLR)

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

High Court at Nairobi (Nairobi Law Courts)

Adoption Cause 200 of 2012

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IN THE MATTER OF THE CHILDREN ACT, 2001

AND

IN THE MATTER OF BABY MF

GOO………………......……………………………..1ST APPLICANT

EMO…………………………………………………...2ND PPLICANT

J U D G M E N T

The applicants, GOO and EMO, are husband and wife. They were married on 8th August 1998. The applicants are both farmers. The Applicants have not been blessed with children of their own due to biological reasons. They wish to adopt a child. They have applied to this court to be allowed to adopt baby MF (the child). The child was presumed to have been born on 12th June 2010. She found abandoned on {Date and particulars withheld]A report was made on the same day to Kericho Police Station. The child was placed with New Life Home Trust, Kisumu on 18th June 2010. She was committed by the Kericho Children’s Court to the custody of the said Children’s Home on 18th June 2010 pending formal adoption proceedings. The Applicants were given custody of the child for mandatory foster care pending adoption pursuant to a foster care agreement which was signed on 3rd December 2010. They took custody of the child on the same day. Since then, the child has been in the custody and care of the applicants.

Prior to the hearing of the adoption, the Adoption Society, Little Angels Network, prepared a report which is filed in court. They also issued a certificate declaring the child free for adoption. The certificate is dated 19th January 2011. The Director of Children’s Services prepared a report which is on record. The guardian ad litem, LWK, prepared a report which has been filed in court. All the reports are favourable and recommend that the court allows the applicants to adopt the child. I have evaluated the facts of this adoption. This is a local adoption. It is evident that the applicants have fulfilled all the legal requirements pertaining to the adoption of the child. The consent of the biological parents of the child was dispensed with since the child was abandoned at birth. They cannot be traced to give their consent. This court is satisfied that the applicants are qualified and able to take care of the child. The home visits by the guardian ad litem, the Adoption Society and the Director of the Children Services established that the applicants have the financial capability to provide for the upkeep and education of the child. This court observed that the applicants with the child in court. It was evident that in the period that the applicants have had the custody of the child, the child has bonded well with them. The child considers the applicants her parents.

This court formed the opinion that it would be in the best interest of the child to be adopted by the applicants. I allow the applicants’ application for adoption. The applicants, GOO and EMO, are hereby allowed to adopt Baby MF. Henceforth, the child shall be known as HWO. Her date of birth shall be 12th June 2010. A and CK, family friends of the applicants, shall be the legal guardian of the child should such eventuality arise. I direct the Registrar General to enter this order in the adoption register. I hereby discharge the guardian ad litem. It is so ordered.

DATED AT NAIROBI THIS 18th DAY OF  APRIL, 2013

L. KIMARU

JUDGE

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