In Re Adoption of S.A. (A Baby) [2012] KEHC 3807 (KLR)

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IN THE MATTER OF THE CHILDREN ACT (Act. No.8 of 2001)

AND

IN THE MATTER OF BABY S A a.k.a. A

COURT AUTHORITY FOR ADOPTION (S.154 OF THE CHILDREN ACT)

JUDGEMENT

JAO, aged 51 (the Applicant) is a Kenya citizen. She is a Banker by profession and is currently employed as a Branch Manager by the[...]. She made an application to this court on 13. 5.2011 by way of Originating Summons seeking authority of this court under Section 154(1) of the Children Act, Cap 141, to adopt the child known as Baby S A a.k.a. W A (the child)aged 8 years. The child was declared free for adoption on 15th December 2011 as is evidenced by Certificate No.000795 filed by Little Angels Network, a registered Adoption Society in Kenya.

The child’s biological mother has never been traced after the child was abandoned at Kakamega Provincial General Hospital. The incident was reported to Kakamega Police Station and is recorded in O.B. No.72/28/2/2006. The child was admitted to New Life Home Trust at Kisumu on 13. 8.2003 and was committed to the Home on 21. 9.2005 pursuant to an order made in the Magistrate’s Court Case No. P & C 156 of 2005.

The motivation on the Applicant’s part to adopt the child is predicated on the need by the applicant to help a needy child and to expand her family. The Applicant has a biological son of her own, CK O, who is aged 19 years. As required by law, CKO, has given his consent to the adoption and has bonded well with the child as well as with the other child in Adoption Cause No. 69 of 2001, namely C, whom the Applicant also seeks to adopt. In effect, if the adoptions are authorized, the Applicant shall have two adopted children of male gender and one biological child also of male gender.

At a salary of Shs.303,944/= per month, and a two bed-roomed apartment of her own a Riverside, Nairobi, valued at Shs.72 million which has been leased at Shs.50,000/= p.m., and a 4 bed roomed pent house at Riara which has also been leased at Shs.53,000/= p.m., the Applicant who lives in a 3 bed roomed house in Nairobi West has sufficient income to raise a family of three.

The Applicant has no criminal record. She professes Christian faith. In the event that she is incapacitated or dies, or is otherwise unable to care and raise the child, she has appointed PSO to step in her shoes and take up the responsibility of caring and raising the children.

The Applicant and the child have been assessed and evaluated by Little Angels Network, a registered Adoption Society in Kenya and by the Director of Children Servicesand the Guardian ad Litem, BOO. I have perused the assessment and evaluation reports. They are favourable. The Applicant had care and control of the child for more than 3 consecutive months and was evaluated before making the application.

As the Applicant has complied with the provisions of the Children Act, and as this is a local adoption, the authority to adopt should not be denied as the applicant is confirmed to be a proper person to adopt the child.  I am satisfied that this adoption is in the best interest of the child.

Accordingly, I grant the Applicant authority to adopt the child and I make the following orders:

1. The consents of the biological parents of the child are hereby dispensed with.

2. The Applicant, JAOishereby authorized to adopt the child, Baby S A a.k.a. W A.

3. The said child shall henceforth be known as K J O.

4. The date of birth of the child is20th July 2003.

5. The Legal Guardian of the child shall be PSO.

6. The Registrar General is hereby directed to enter this adoption in the Register of Adoptions.

7. For the avoidance of doubt, it is herein declared that all rights, duties, obligations and liabilities of the biological parents or guardians of the child are extinguished and all such rights, duties, obligations and liabilities shall vest in and be exercised by and enforceable against the adopting parent namely, JAOas if the said child were her biological child and the child shall have the right to inherit the Applicant.

Dated at Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi, this 14th dayof June 2012.

G.B.M. KARIUKI, SC

JUDGE

COUNSEL APPEARING

Ms G. W. Thungu advocate, of Ochieng Ogutu & Company, advocates for the Applicants

Mr. Kugwa – Court Clerk