Gov’t Bans Foreigners from Adopting Kenyan Children

The government has announced a ban on the adoption of Kenyan children by foreign nationals. 

The ban was declared following a special Cabinet meeting chaired by President Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi on Thursday morning.

The meeting also agreed to overhaul operations at the Child Welfare Society of Kenya (CWSK), a State corporation that oversees the adoption of children in the country. President Kenyatta is the society’s patron.

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection was directed to formulate a new policy document that will regulate the process of child adoption in Kenya. The ministry was further ordered to streamline operations of children’s homes in the country.

The move comes two weeks after a local TV station aired an expose about deplorable conditions at children’s orphanages operated by the Child Welfare Society. The feature exposed how children at the sanctuaries are often subjected to mistreatment.

The Child Welfare Society of Kenya carries out its programs across the 47 counties in the country. The ban takes effect immediately.

“CWSK has done adoptions on behalf of the Kenyan Government since 1969, placing over 8,000 children into legal adoption,” a statement on the CWSK website reads.