In re Adoption of Baby BB (Minor) (Adoption Cause E127 of 2025) [2025] KEHC 17240 (KLR) (Family) (20 November 2025) (Judgment) Neutral citation: [2025] KEHC 17240 (KLR) REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT AT NAIROBI (MILIMANI LAW COURTS) FAMILY ADOPTION CAUSE E127 OF 2025 CJ KENDAGOR, J NOVEMBER 20, 2025 IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION FOR ADOPTION OF BABY BB (MINOR IN THE MATTER OF FMN ...................................................................................................... 1ST APPLICANT ANM .................................................................................................... 2ND APPLICANT JUDGMENT 1. Before this Court is the application filed by the Applicants, FMN and ANM. The Applicants FMN and ANM are seeking to be authorized to adopt Baby BB hereinafter referred to as (“the child”) and upon adoption, the child is to be known as VGN. RWM be appointed as the child’s legal guardian upon granting of the adoption orders. 2. The Applicants are a married couple who got married on 16th day of August, 2014 as evidenced by a copy of their marriage certificate. They are Kenyan citizens as is evidenced by copies of their Kenyan National Identity Cards respectively. They do not have a biological child of their own. FMN is a teacher and ANM is a prison officer, hence their financial capability and ability to provide for the child, as evidenced by copies of their financial statements and they have assets as well as rental income and they also do farming. Their health status is good as is evidenced by 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. They have indicated their desire to adopt the child by virtue of their being married without being blessed with any biological children and have opted to expand their family through adoption and help a needy child by providing him/her with a place to call home. The female applicant, ANM, stated that she has always had a deep love for children. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/17240/eng@2025-11-20 1
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3. RWM is the proposed Legal guardian. RWM is ANM’s sister in law, as she is married to ANM’s brother. She told the Court that she understands her role and is ready to undertake that responsibility as the legal guardian. 4. The report from the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services State Department for Children Services, Nairobi County, dated 8th October, 2025, indicates that the child is 3 years and 10 months old, having been born on 29th November, 2021. He is Kenyan, who was offered for adoption by his biological mother alongside her guardian, who gave their consents on 31st January, 2022. Except for the mother, nobody has claimed the child. The child has been in their custody since 17th March, 2024. The child was declared free for adoption on 7th December, 2023 by Child Welfare Society of Kenya vide freeing certificate number 1152. 5. 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. 6. 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 him. 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. 2. 3. c. In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or 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. 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; and c. secure for the child such guidance and correction as is necessary for the welfare of the child, and in public interest. 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. 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: https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/17240/eng@2025-11-20 2
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1. The age, maturity, stage of development, gender, background and any other relevant characteristics of the child. 2. Distinct special needs (if any) arising from chronic ailment or disability. 3. 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. 4. The preference of the child, if old enough to express a meaningful preference. 5. The duration and adequacy of the child’s current living arrangements and the desirability of maintaining continuity. 6. The stability of any proposed living arrangements for the child. 7. The motivation of the parties involved and their capacities to give the child love, affection and guidance. 8. The child’s adjustment to the child’s present home, school and community. 9. The capacity of each parent or guardian to allow and encourage frequent and continuing contact between the child and the other parent and/ or guardian(s), including physical access. 10. The capacity of each parent and/or guardian(s) to cooperate or to learn to cooperate in child care. 11. Methods for assisting parental and/or guardian cooperation and resolving disputes and each parent’s/guardian’s willingness to use those methods. 12. The effect of the child if one parent/guardian has sole authority over the child’s upbringing. 13. 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. 14. 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. 15. Where the child is under one year of age, whether the child is being breast- fed. 16. 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. 17. Where there is a person residing with a parent or guardian, whether that person; - 18. 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. Any other factor which may have a direct or indirect effect on the physical and psychological well -being of the child. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/17240/eng@2025-11-20 3
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7. The report from the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, State Department for Children Services, the report from Child Welfare Society of Kenya, the guardian ad litem and the proposed legal guardian indicate that the child is well known to the adoptive parents and that he will be well taken care of in their care and custody. 8. I am satisfied that the Applicants have a genuine desire to adopt the child. They are suitable as adoptive parents. 9. I find that this adoption gives the child a chance at a better life and education in a loving and stable home with the adoptive parents. I do not doubt that the child has bonded with the Applicants. 10. Based on the foregoing, I am satisfied that this adoption serves the child's best interests. As such, I do allow this application and make the following orders: 11. a. The Applicants, FMN and ANM, are hereby authorized to adopt the child known as baby BB. b. Upon adoption, the child shall be known as VGN. c. The child is presumed to be a Kenyan citizen by birth. d. The Director of Immigration is hereby authorized to issue the child with a Kenyan Passport. e. RWM is hereby appointed as the child’s legal guardian. f. The Registrar General do make an entry of the adoption in the Adopted Children’s Register. g. The guardian ad litem is hereby discharged. It is so ordered. DATED, DELIVERED AND SIGNED AT NAIROBI THROUGH THE MICROSOFT TEAMS ONLINE PLATFORM ON THIS 20TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 .................................... C. KENDAGOR JUDGE In the presence of: Court Assistant: Beryl Anne and Francis present https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/17240/eng@2025-11-20 4
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