Government Sets Tough Child Adoption Regulations Amid Surge
Florence Bore, Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection, issued new criteria for Kenyan child adoption on Tuesday.
The fees for processing local adoption were established at Ksh30,000 in the Draft Children (Adoption) Regulations, 2024. Adoption certificates will also be given for Ksh 500.
The regulations stated that applications for adoption would be free.
However, the government is also attempting to prevent newlywed couples from adopting children. According to the proposed regulations, couples who file a joint application must have been married for at least three years.
Furthermore, Kenyans who adopt children must provide police clearance certificates obtained within six months of the application date.
Those who want to adopt will also need to go through counseling before they can begin the adoption process.
It was stated that the regulations were intended to protect youngsters.
On the other hand, the new regulations include a replacement process in which the child is placed in the household for a period of time to be assessed for suitability.
“An adopted child has all the inheritance rights. For purposes of any written law relating to marriage for the time being in Kenya, you,
your children (if any) and the adopted child shall be deemed to be within the prohibited degree of consanguinity and therefore cannot enter into a marriage relationship.
“Often the child may have been through traumatic experiences and will need you to provide a caring and secure family environment. The child has a right to know that he is adopted, and has a right to know about his origin as soon as the child is able to understand,” read the regulations in part.
The application process is detailed below:
i) Fill out the adoption form. The form must be accompanied by a police clearance certificate and the fee mentioned.
ii) Any other paperwork required by the adoption society will be attached.
iii) Upon receipt of an application, the adoption society will create a child case record.
iv) An applicant will then be referred to a qualified counsellor.
v) The adoption society then conducts a home assessment.
Pre-placement counseling is then provided for approved applications.
Government Sets Tough Child Adoption Regulations Amid Surge
