Adoption Agencies and Information for Kenya

Kenyan courts are not institutionally biased against foreigners seeking to adopt children in Kenya. Although it still remains an issue, the courts are beginning to take a more liberal view of racial differences between prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) and the adoptive child. Kenyan courts view the welfare of the child as paramount in reviewing an adoption case.

The government office responsible for adoptions in Kenya is the High Courts and the Department of Children’s Services. The Department of Children’s Services can provide a list of currently registered adoption agencies with which PAPs may deal.  The adopting couple must reside in Kenya with the child for at least three months before the legal procedure begins, the average length of the adoption process is about six months, including the three month residency requirement.

Kenyan Department of Children’s Services
P.O. Box 46205-00100
Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: 254-20-228-411

KENYA EMBASSY AND CONSULATES IN THE UNITED STATES:
Embassy of the Republic of Kenya
2249 R Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20008
Telephone: (202) 387-6101

For more information about adoption from this country and about adoption agencies that can assist you, please visit the websites below.  Prospective adoptive parents are advised to fully research any of the adoption agencies they plan to use for adoption services.

The U.S. Department of State: Kenya Adoption and Adoption Agencies
The U.S. Department of State: Authentications Office
Child Citizenship Act of 2000
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
U.S. Foreign travel registration
U.S. Government Consular Information Sheets

*Footnote: The Joint Council for International Children’s Services (JCICS) is one of the oldest and largest membership associations of licensed non-profit international adoption agencies.  All of the above adoption agencies are listed as members of JCICS.

This site is intended as a very general guide to assist adopting persons who are considering the adoption of a child from a foreign country.  External links should not be construed as an endorsement of the site, the adoption agencies listed, or of the information contained within the sites.