Adoption in Kenya Orders are issued by the High Court of Kenya only, and not any lower court. Once issued, the adoption order is served on the Registrar-General (Marriages and Adoptions Office) for entry into the Adopted Children’s Register and issuance of the Adoption Certificate.

The Adoption Order must be accompanied by the original birth certificate of the child. In the case of abandoned babies, for whom no birth certificate is issued, documents from relevant authorities proving that the child was abandoned must accompany the Adoption Order. These may include a police report, Children’s Department report and a letter from the children’s home or hospital that held the abandoned baby. The fee payable for the certificate is Ksh. 100.

The Registrar’s Office then conforms the authenticity of the documents from court and liaises with the Registrar of Births and Deaths to have that birth entry marked ‘ADOPTED’.

The Adoption is entered into the Adopted Children’s Register and an Adoption Certificate issued. Children’s Register and an Adoption Certificate