Faces Too Beautiful To Lack A Family; Adoption is for the Rich
Faces Too Beautiful To Lack A Family
Date: Fri 04th December 2009
Mediahouse: Daily Nation
Page: 3
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By MILLICENT MWOLOLO
Not even the early morning rain could dampen the resolve of the families gathered at Uhuru Park for a walk through the city. About 200 parents and children in striking bright orange T-shirts and banners, marched last Saturday as they chanted: "Every child has a right to a family" and "Every parent has a right to have a child."
This message that adoption is indeed a necessity brought the Nairobi morning traffic to a halt. Unlike some years back when the slogan was "Adoption is an option", it is no longer an option. Thousands of children in Kenya need families. Among the parents and their children were Grace and Stephen Angula and their adopted son, Bob. "Life is sweet since we adopted this child," said Grace. "I couldn't imagine I could find such joy and fulfilment in life. But I'm glad it has happened," she added, wiping away tears of joy.
Married in 1975, Grace had a baby three years later who died within months. "This saw the start of challenges," she recalls, "especially, the relationship with my in-laws. I survived abuse and mistreatment just because I did not have a child. But God gave me a big heart and a patient husband who stood by my side, even at a time when all odds were against him".
Fallopian tubes
Some relatives, she added, argued that she should not stay in the marriage if she could not have a child. In 1982, she had an ectopic pregnancy that saw her lose one of her Fallopian tubes and as fate would have it, the other one got blocked. But this did not deter her from her goal to have a baby. In 1987, she spent Sh50,000, trying to unblock the tube, but it never worked.
In 2005, her sister-in-law took her through adoption procedures. Eventually, in December 2008, after 33 years of marriage, Grace and Stephen had their own baby boy. "Ever since, my life has been full of joy - beyond measure. My four-year-old son is very bright in school, very loving, very jolly and I have no regrets. I rarely remember that he is an adopted child.
Her decision to adopt has silenced so many voices that spelled doom for her family. She would love to adopt even more children and urges willing parents to "accommodate any child who needs parental love".
There are thousands of children in Kenya waiting to be adopted. The Adoptive Parents Association of Kenya (APK) cites lack of awareness and the difficult procedures. "The adoption processes are too complicated. The complexity works against adoptions in Kenya," says Mr Fred Kimemia, the APK vice-chairman. "Many willing adopters have abandoned the idea or quit halfway due to the technicalities and the legal expenses," he said.
Key setbacks to adoption in Kenya include The Children's Act 2001, The Children Adoption Regulations and The Hague Convention on Protection of Children - laws that govern adoption in Kenya. Ms Gaciku Kangari, the executive director of the Kenyans to Kenyans Peace Initiative Adoption Society said: "It is time adoption laws were reformed to increase adoptions as it will be fruitless to champion for adoption when the laws make it difficult."
The cost of adoption is also a hindrance. Lawyer's fees, Grace Angula says, can be quite intimidating and prospective adopters can beat a retreat when informed of the cost. "That is why there is a general public feeling that adoption is for the rich," she said.
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