In re Baby AK aka Baby A (Adoption Cause E254 of 2025) [2025] KEHC 17797 (KLR) (Family) (27 November 2025) (Judgment) Neutral citation: [2025] KEHC 17797 (KLR) REPUBLIC OF KENYA IN THE HIGH COURT AT NAIROBI (MILIMANI LAW COURTS) FAMILY ADOPTION CAUSE E254 OF 2025 CJ KENDAGOR, J NOVEMBER 27, 2025 IN THE MATTER OF THE CHILDREN ACT, 2022 AND IN THE MATTER OF BABY AK AKA BABY A IN THE MATTER OF JMM ...................................................................................................... 1ST APPLICANT EWW ................................................................................................... 2ND APPLICANT JUDGMENT 1. Before this Court is an Originating Summons dated 15th September, 2025. The Applicants JMM and EWW, are seeking to be authorized to adopt baby AK aka baby A, hereinafter referred to as (“the child”), and upon adoption, the child is to be known as CIM. They have proposed that AMW and VWM be appointed as the child’s legal guardians upon the granting of the adoption orders. 2. The Applicants are a married couple who got married on 2nd October, 2010 at ACK All Saints Kianyaga Church in Kirinyaga, but they do not have any biological children of their own from the said marriage. They are Kenyan citizens as evidenced by copies of their National Identity Cards. JMM is a businessman, buying and selling properties, while EWW is a businesswoman and they have investments, hence their financial capability and ability to provide for the child. Their health status is good, as evidenced by the medical reports and they do not have any previous criminal records as evidenced by their Certificates of Good Conduct issued by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations. They have indicated their desire to adopt the child is due to the fact that they love children and would like to be parents and provide a place to call home to a minor. The child has been in their custody since 26th October, 2024. https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/17797/eng@2025-11-27 1
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3. AMW and VWM, who are the proposed Legal guardians, are EWW’s brother and sister-in-law, respectively. They told the Court that they understand the proceedings before the Court and the role of legal guardians, the role which they voluntarily consented to on 15th September, 2025. The child who was examined in Court appeared agitated but healthy. 4. The report from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, State Department for Social Protection, Directorate of Children’s Services, dated 30th October, 2025, indicates that the child is presumed to have been born on 13th October, 2021. He is a Kenyan who was found abandoned within [Particulars Withheld] in Githurai 45 by a good Samaritan, namely PG. The good samaritan reported the matter to Githurai Kimbo Police Station. Investigations to uncover the whereabouts of the child’s parents have remained fruitless, and nobody has claimed the child since then. The child was declared free for adoption on 11th October, 2024, by Buckner Kenya Adoption Services, vide freeing certificate number 0811. 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/2025/17797/eng@2025-11-27 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/2025/17797/eng@2025-11-27 3
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7. The report from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection State Department for Social Protection, Directorate of Children’s Services, the report from Buckner Kenya Adoption Services, 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, JMM and EWW, are hereby authorized to adopt baby AK aka baby A. b. Upon adoption, the minor shall be known as CIM. c. AMW and VWM are hereby appointed as the legal guardians of the minor. d. The Registrar General is hereby directed to enter this adoption into the Adopted Children’s Register. e. The Registrar of Births and Deaths do issue the child a Birth Certificate with the new name. f. The minor is hereby presumed to be a Kenyan citizen born in Kenya. 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 27TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025. .................................... C. KENDAGOR JUDGE In the presence of: Court Assistant: Beryl Ms. Adhiambo, Advocate, holding brief for Moranga, Advocate for Applicants https://new.kenyalaw.org/akn/ke/judgment/kehc/2025/17797/eng@2025-11-27 4
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