Are you a single man looking to adopt a child in Kenya? Here's how

Think about it…  

You are a man in your late 20s or maybe pushing 40. You have a stable job, a home that finally feels like yours, and a life that, while fulfilling, sometimes feels like it’s missing something. Marriage? Not really your thing. But fatherhood? Now, that’s a thought that lingers.

The idea of coming home to tiny footsteps running to the door, of bedtime stories and daily school runs, of being called ‘Dad’ by someone who looks up to you as their world—it tugs at something deep inside you.  

However, adopting as a single dad isn’t the traditional route.  

Advocate Martin Okonji opines that adoption is not just for married people.  

Okonji, speaking on Spice FM on Tuesday, February 26, noted that the law allows anyone—man or woman, single or married—to adopt, as long as they meet the legal requirements.  

However, just like couples, singles must also go through a rigorous process.  

“Everyone can adopt a child; you don’t need to be married, as long as you are of age. However, the process of adopting a child is very tedious, so by the time you decide to adopt, there is no second-guessing,” said Okonji.  

So how can a single man adopt?  
The law states that the applicant must be at least 25 years old, at least 21 years older than the child, and not older than 65 years.  

The child, on the other hand, must be at least six weeks old but under 18 years and must be declared free for adoption by an adoption society.  

However, for single men, there’s a major restriction. “A single man can adopt a child, but only to the extent of a relative,” Okonji adds. 

The Children’s Act of 2022 states: “A sole male applicant, except where the applicant is a biological relative of the child, cannot apply to adopt a child.”

Additionally, the Office of the Attorney General notes that a single male applicant cannot adopt a female child unless the court is satisfied that there are special circumstances.

The adoption process 

Wakili Okonji the process of Adopting a child is so vigorous that it makes it fair for a single man to adopt a child pic.twitter.com/ATeAQvtanG — SpiceFM (@SpiceFMKE) February 25, 2025

If a single man wants to proceed with adoption [as a relative to the child], the process is similar to that of a couple.  

First, Okonji explains that the man must file an Originating Summons in any High Court under the Family division.  

This legal document states the applicant’s intention to adopt a specific child and is usually done through a lawyer.  

Once the court receives the application, the adoption process begins through the Child Welfare Society.  

“Once you submit the Originating Summons, the court initiates a vetting process through the Child Welfare Society, which will compile a report at the end. The society will speak to your family, friends, and neighbors and observe how you bond with the child to determine whether you are eligible. They will also assess whether the child will be better off in your care than where they currently reside,” he explained. 

If the biological parent is giving up their child for adoption, they must sign an affidavit supporting the application and provide reasons for their decision.  

If the court is satisfied that the child is free for adoption and the applicant is fit, it will issue an Adoption Order, fully transferring parental rights and responsibilities to the adoptive father.