With the child adoption process in Kenya made easier, people no longer have to wait for long or endure the cumbersome process to be united to their adopted children. The process was a tiring and painstaking one some time back until things changed for the better. Adoption in Kenya today is not expensive. It is also straight forward, much to the relief of adopting parents. Regardless of the reason for adopting the child, the fact that the process has been eased is one that is welcomed with a lot of relief for both parents and children.

It is important to note that adopting a child should, and must be done legally. This is the only way any new parent would enjoy the freedom and benefits of having adopted a child. Illegal adoption will cause trauma to the child especially when it is discovered. It is important therefore to understand that adoption is the legal assumption of all responsibilities of raising a child that may not necessarily be naturally yours in the sense that the child is not your own biologically. Child adoption in Kenya may be a bit strict than it is in other countries in Africa but it is better today than it was a few years back.

What are the requirements for adopting a child?

Inasmuch as it has been said that adopting a child is pretty simple, you need to know what to do. Sticking to the rules makes the entire process enjoyable. The following are things you must know about the adoption process in Kenya.

• To adopt a child, you first need to start by finding a registered adoption society. This is the entity that will hold your hand through both legal and social requirements. It is the mandate of this society to walk with you from the beginning to the end of the adoption process.
• Make inquires about your interest in adoption. It is at this point that you will be introduced to the laws of adoption in Kenya. For instance, you are allowed to adopt a child if you are 25 years of age and above. In addition, you need to be 21 or more years older than the child you want to adopt. Unless under special occasion, single ladies can only adopt girls and single men can adopt only boys.
• Bring with you your national ID, a certificate of good conduct and a referral letter from a religious leader.
• Be ready to spend about Ksh 8000 to Ksh 12000 depending on the adoption society you need.
• Home assessment will then follow, after which your case will go before a committee which scrutinizes your application. More often than not, this is just a formality and your request will most likely go through.
• The next step would be for you to identify a child but you should know that the adoption society will find you a child that resembles to you.
• After your child is identified, you will need 2 weeks to bond after which you will go home with your child and be under observation for 3 months of placement.
• Married couples that want to adopt a child must have been married for at least 3 years

Unlike what many people think, you do not necessarily need a lawyer at the beginning of the process. In fact, you can do without one since courts encourage self representation as they have become a lot friendlier. Depending on what you decide to do, the process can take a minimum of 6 months. The secret is to find one of the good adoption agencies in Kenya and work with them. This is your best chance of having a smooth adoption process.

Now that we have understood the process, it is important to know about who can adopt a child and which child can be adopted as well. Adoptions in Kenya can happen in so many ways. To adopt a child as a married couple, both of you must be in agreement and must have been married for not less than 3 years. It is also possible for one parent to adopt the other parent's child as long as it is with the consent of the biological parent. It is also possible for kinship adoption to take place. This is where a relative adopts a child as his own. For all adoptions to take place, both the adoptive child and parent must be residents of Kenya for the 6 months period the adoption is to take place.

Now that we have understood about the adoptive parent, it helps to know how the adoptive child should be like. First the child must be 18 years and below. He or should must also be living in Kenya. Adoption of this child can take place if the child was found abandoned such that the whereabouts of the parents are unknown. The child is orphaned and relatives or guardians are unwilling to take care of him or her. A child can also be adopted if the parents have offered consent for the adoption. Sometimes parents offer their children for adoption for one reason or another. If you are a foreigner looking to adopt a child then consider coming to stay in Kenya for 6 months first as already mentioned in the requirements above.

How much does it cost to adopt from Kenya?

The cost of adopting a child varies greatly depending on a number of things. First, the adoption society you choose has a charge for facilitating the process. This cost varies from one place to another. Secondly, the charges will also depend on whether or not you represent yourself in court or you use a lawyer. In case you decide to go with a lawyer then he costs will definitely be higher as you must cover the lawyer's fee. The standard fee for most agencies is however ksh. 12,500. Add lawyer's charges if you will use one as this is based on your negotiations with the lawyer. In most cases, families have been approved for adoption even with low income which goes to show that adoption in Kenya is not about money.

List of adoption societies in Kenya

It is clear that the best and easiest way to adopt a child in Kenya is through the use of an adoption society. These include:

• Little Angels network
• KKPI adoption society
• Child welfare society of Kenya

Adoption laws in Kenya

A lot can be said about adoption in Kenya but it will not hold water if it is not in agreement with the law. Adoption is provided by law under the Children Act No 8 of 2001, under part XII. In addition to this, the Children Adoption Regulations 2005 also provides a guideline for the process. According to this regulations and the law, the welfare and safety of the child is paramount. The laws are focused on making the adoption process transparent, friendly and accessible. The law also stipulates the government's role in the whole adoption process. The law has the following steps in place.

• Adoption society assessing the adoptive parents of choice
• Adoption society declaring a child free for adoption
• The child being placed with the applicants
• 3 months bonding period for parents and child before filing the application in court

There are several consents that will be needed before the adoption is finalized. These are:

• The child's consent if he or she is 14 years and above
• Consent of guardians/ parents or the person with whom parental responsibilities lie with
• Consent of the courts or relevant government authorities from their country in case of non residents.

There are certain instances where consent for adoption can be withheld. First is when the parents or guardians are untraceable because the child was abandoned. It is also possible to withhold consent if spouses are permanently separated.

The law also has stipulations in which certain people are barred from adopting children in Kenya. These include:

• Individual of unsound mind
• People that have been previously convicted or charged with child molestation offenses
• Homosexuals
• Joint applicants that are not married to each other
• A male foreigner that is a sole applicant

How long does it take to go through the adoption process?

As already mentioned earlier, the minimum time the process can take is 6 months. This is the fastest it can be since the adoption process has been made easier and more convenient for people in Kenya. However, if you choose to drag the process then it can take years to complete. Choose the right adoption society to hasten things and be united with your child in the shortest time possible.

The adoption process in Kenya does not have to cumbersome and stressful as was earlier known. In fact, all you need to do is find the right adoption agency and you are good to go. It helps to understand what the law says about the process as well. This will help you prepare well before applying for an adoption.

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Source: TUKO.co.ke

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