ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BANNED IN KENYA, MUJIPANGE KUZAA

The government of kenya has banned the
adoption of Kenyan children by
immigrants into the country.
This comes after a decision was arrived at during
a cabinet meeting chaired by
President Uhuru Kenyatta in
Nairobi Thursday.
Licences of those involved in inter-
country adoptions were revoked
with immediate effect.
“The decision has been informed
by Kenya’s ranking by the Global
Report on Trafficking in Persons
2014 that cited Kenya as a source,
transit and destination country in
human trafficking,” said a Cabinet
memo sent to newsrooms.
The country is also ranked at Tier
2 Watchlist for non-compliance
with minimum standards for
elimination of trafficking, based on
the 2014 US State Department
report on trafficking in persons.
“Currently, Kenyan laws do not
define child sale, child procuring,
child trade and child laundering as
part of trafficking,” said the
memo.
The Cabinet said this had in effect
put Kenyan children at high risk.
CHILDRENS HOMES
“This has created a loophole for
fraudulent vested interests,
masquerading through ownership
of children homes, adoption
agencies and legal firms
representing children, and
adopters, to engage in the
unscrupulous business of human
trafficking under the guise of
charity,” the Cabinet said.
A report released in August by a
child rights organisation Cradle
indicates that children as young as
two were victims of trafficking for
illegal adoption.
However, according to the
organisation, prosecution of
culprits has remained elusive since
investigations were not being
conducted by the relevant state
agencies.
A 19-year-old missionary from
Oklahoma was recently charged in
a US court for sexually abusing
children in an orphanage in
Nairobi.
Meanwhile the government is
considering allocating additional
funds to Uwezo Fund in the next
financial year to be able to
accommodate the huge number of
interested youth and women.