Adopting a child from another country can be difficult, and a Kenya adoption is no exception. The amount of red tape can be overwhelming, and the process can be lengthy and time-consuming. Knowing the proper procedures can greatly speed up the process of going through a Kenyan adoption.
To be allowed a Kenya adoption, there must be two married parents involved. Adoptions will not be allowed for a single applicant, gay or lesbian couples, or any applicant who has been charged and convicted of an offence against children. One of the applicant couple must be more than 25 years old and more than 21 years older than the child to be adopted. The adopting parent should not be more than 65 years old.
The child in question must be at least 6 weeks old and officially registered with a recognized adoption society. Any child over 14 years of age must give his or her consent to the adoption.
Part of the Kenya adoption process is a 3-month long stay in Kenya to live with the child. This is actually the very first step, and most other legal proceedings take place after this residency is complete. The rest of the process will likely take another 3 months. So you will need to allow for about 6 months to complete the adoption.
After you have completed the adoption, you are still required to submit status reports (with current photos) for 5 years. Such reports are required quarterly for the first 2 years, and then just semi-annually for the remaining 3 years.
At this time the law states that non-Kenyans can adopt orphans from Kenya but only after having lives with that child for 3 months in Kenya . It appears that at times there may be possible exceptions to this rule, but exceptions will not be the norm.
While the system for adoption continues to streamline in Kenya the 3 month in country stay with the child you intend to adopt does not appear to be going anywhere for the time being. The 3 month rule is meant as a security for the child. It is there to be sure the adoptive parents and child are bonding well, that the adoptive parents are learning about Kenyan culture and to weed out those individuals who are not ready to make a serious commitment to a child.
There are only 3 registered adoption societies in Kenya .
1. The Kenya Children's Home Adoption Society
Located within Thomas Barnardo House, the Adoption Society off Langatta Rd.
The Chief Administrator
Kenya Children's Home
P.O. Box 44261-00100 GPO
Nairobi
Tel: 602002 / 601922
Fax: 603605
Cell: 0722 200408 / 0734 600113
2. Kenyans to Kenyans Peace Initiative Adoption Society
Located Opp Tuskeys Langatta Rd. Kogo star plaza mezzanine Room14.
Child Welfare House
Langata Road
P.O. Box 43982-00100
Tel: +254 (020) 603 301/6391/7408
Nairobi , Kenya
E-mail: cwsktoto@yahoo.com
Little Angel Network Society
L Jumuiya Place , Ground Floor Lenana Road
P.O. Box 43982-00100
Tel: +254 (020) 3866442,3866443,2734422,2733608
Nairobi , Kenya
