In re JA (Baby) [2024] KEHC 7473 (KLR)

In re JA (Baby) (Adoption Cause E261 of 2023) [2024] KEHC 7473 (KLR) (Family) (20 June 2024) (Judgment)

Neutral citation: [2024] KEHC 7473 (KLR)

Republic of Kenya

In the High Court at Nairobi (Milimani Law Courts)

Family

Adoption Cause E261 of 2023

HK Chemitei, J

June 20, 2024

IN THE MATTER OF BABY JA

In the matter of

SOO

1st Applicant

OKG

2nd Applicant

Judgment

1. Before this Court is the application dated 6th December, 2023. The Applicants SOO and OSG are seeking to be authorized to adopt Baby JA hereinafter referred to as the child and upon adoption, the child is to be known as MJO. ENK and PNA were appointed as the child’s legal guardians upon granting of the adoption orders.

2. The Applicants are married and are Kenyan as is evidenced by copies of their Kenyan National Identity Cards. SOO is self-employed and OSG is employed. Their financial capability and ability to provide for the child are evidenced by their invoices, MPESA statements and title deed showing land ownership.

3. Their health status is good as is evidenced by their medical reports and they do not have any previous criminal records as is evidenced by their Certificates of Good Conduct issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

4. They have indicated that they have not been able to get a child of their own due medical conditions on OSG’s part and the one child they conceived ended up as a still birth. They feel that they need to nurture a child, they love children and would wish to offer themselves as parents to a needy child.

5. The report from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen’s Affairs - Directorate of Children’s Services (Nairobi County) dated 11th April, 2024 indicates that the child is male and 1 year and 3 months old having been born in 2022. He was found abandoned in a rental house in Mlolongo area by a good samaritan and remained unclaimed. The child was declared free for adoption on 19th June, 2023 by Buckner Kenya Adoption Services vide freeing Certificate Serial Number 0690.

6. The child is a Kenyan citizen by virtue of Article 14 (1) which provides that a person is a citizen by birth if on the day of the person’s birth, whether or not the person is born in Kenya, either the mother or father of the person is a citizen.

7. In light of the best interests of the child principle provided for under Article 53 (2) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. Sections 8 (1), (2) and (3) of the Children’s Act No. 29 of 2022 and the 1st Schedule of the Children’s Act No. 29 of 2022, this Court has an obligation to prioritize the child’s best interests in making decisions touching on her.a.Article 53 of the Constitution, 2010 states that a child’s best interests are of paramount importance in every matter concerning the child.b.Sections 8 (1), (2) and (3) of the Children’s Act No. 29 of 2022 provides as follows:-1. In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public of private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies:a.The best interests of the child shall be the primary consideration;b.The best interests of the child shall include, but shall not be limited to the considerations set out in the First Schedule.

8. All judicial and administrative institutions, and all persons acting in the name of such institutions, when exercising any powers conferred under this Act or any other written law, shall treat the interests of the child as the first and paramount consideration to the extent that this is consistent with adopting a course of action calculated to:-a.safeguard and promote the rights and welfare of the child;b.conserve and promote the welfare of the child; andc.secure for the child such guidance and correction as is necessary for the welfare of the child, and in public interest.

9. In any matters affecting a child, the child shall be accorded an opportunity to express their opinion, and that opinion shall be taken into account in appropriate cases, having regard to the child’s age and degree of maturity.c.The First Schedule as provided for under Section 8 (1) of the Children’s Act No. 29 of 2022 provides best interests considerations to be as follows:-1. The age, maturity, stage of development, gender, background and any other relevant characteristics of the child.

10. Distinct special needs (if any) arising from chronic ailment or disability.

11. The relationship of the child with the child’s parent(s) and/ or guardian (s) and any other persons who may significantly affect the child’s welfare.

12. The preference of the child, if old enough to express a meaningful preference.

13. The duration and adequacy of the child’s current living arrangements and the desirability of maintaining continuity.

14. The stability of any proposed living arrangements for the child.

15. The motivation of the parties involved and their capacities to give the child love, affection and guidance.

16. The child’s adjustment to the child’s present home, school and community.

17. The capacity of each parent or guardian to allow andVencourage frequent and continuing contact between the child and the other parent and/ or guardian(s), including physical access.

18. The capacity of each parent and/ or guardian(s) to cooperate or to learn to cooperate in child care.

19. Methods for assisting parental and/or guardian cooperation and resolving disputes and each parent’s/ guardian’s willingness to use those methods.

20. The effect of the child if one parent/ guardian has sole authority over the child’s upbringing.

21. The existence of domestic abuse between the parents/ guardian(s), in the past or currently, and how that abuse affects the emotional stability and physical safety of the child.

22. The existence of any history of child abuse by a parent and/ or guardian (s); or anyone residing in the same dwelling as the child.

23. Where the child is under one year of age, whether the child is being breast - fed.

24. The existence of a parent’s(s) or guardian’s (s) conviction for a sex offense or a sexually violent offense under the Sexual Offences Act.

25. Where there is a person residing with a parent or guardian, whether that person:-a.Has been convicted of a crime under this Act, the Sexual Offences Act, the Penal Code or any other legislation.b.Has been adjudicated of a juvenile offence which, if the person had been an adult at the time of the offence, the person would have been convicted of a felony.

26. Any other factor which may have a direct or indirect effect on the physical and psychological well-being of the child.

27. The report from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection State Department for Social Protection and Senior Citizen’s Affairs - Directorate of Children’s Services (Nairobi County), the report from Buckner Kenya Adoption Services, the guardian ad litem and the proposed legal guardian indicate that the child will be well taken care of in the care and custody of the adoptive parents.

28. I find that this adoption gives the child better opportunities abroad with the adoptive parent. This court had the opportunity of interviewing the parties online as well and they were all positive.

29. In the circumstances, I allow the originating summons dated 6th December, 2023 and make the following orders:a.The Applicants SOO and OKG are authorized to adopt the child.b.Upon adoption, the child shall be known as MO.c.The child is declared to be a Kenyan citizen by birth and is entitled to all rights and benefits under the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 and all applicable laws.d.ENA and PN are appointed as legal guardians of the child.(e)The Registrar General is directed to make the relevantentries in the Adopted Children’s Register in respect ofthe child.f.The Registrar of births and deaths is directed to issue abirth certificate in respect of the child’s new name.It is so ordered.

DATED SIGNED AND DELIVERED AT NAIROBI VIA VIDEO LINK THIS 20TH DAY OF JUNE 2024. H. K. CHEMITEIJUDGE