1. Be the central authority for the purposes of the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoptions;

2. Advise the Cabinet Secretary on matters relating to child protection;

3. Collaborate with relevant State Departments, state and non-state agencies to monitor  and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of all social programmes established in the interests of children;

4. Facilitate, monitor and evaluate the enforcement of the principles of international law and treaty instruments binding on Kenya in respect of matters relating to children;

5. Develop policy, codes of conduct regulating good practice relating to child protection and child welfare;

6. Monitor and evaluate implementation of public education programs on the rights and welfare of children

7. Advice on technical and support services to state and non-state agencies participating in child welfare programmes;

8. Prescribe training needs and requirements for authorized officers;

9. Formulate, approve, evaluate and monitor implementation of programmes to facilitate the full implementation of Kenya’s international and regional obligations relating to children and support the formulation of appropriate reports under such obligations;

10. Formulate, approve, evaluate and monitor implementation of policies to regulate family empowerment and social security that are designed to alleviate the hardships which impair the social welfare of children;

11. Regulate, register, approve, evaluate and monitor implementation of child welfare programmes proposed by charitable children’s institutions in accordance with this Act;

12. Advice the Cabinet Secretary on establishment of children rescue centers or designation of children’s institutions to operate as children rescue centers;

13. Formulate, approve, evaluate and monitor implementation of programmes to create public awareness in all matters relating to the rights and welfare of children;

14. Formulate, approve, evaluate and monitor implementation of programmes for the alleviation of the plight of children with special needs or requiring special attention;

15. Promote, carry out and disseminate research relating to welfare and protection of children matters;

16. Establish panels of persons from whom guardians ad litem appointed by the court in matters relating to children including adoption regulated under this Act;

17. Maintain and update a register of guardians ad litem;

18. Establish, regulate and manage the activities of County Children Advisory Committees to advise on matters relating to the rights, welfare and protection of children;

19. Promote linkages and exchange programmes with organisations in and outside Kenya;

20. Establish, maintain and update a database of children in Kenya;

21. Advise the Cabinet Secretary on matters relating to the formulation of national policy on domestic and inter-country adoptions;

22. Accredit and license duly registered adoption and child protection agencies in order to facilitate domestic and inter-country adoptions;

23. Establish, update and maintain a database for domestic and inter-country adoptions;

24. Advise the Cabinet Secretary on matters relating to adoption practice and procedure;

25. Provide professional and technical advice and support services to licensed adoption agencies on matters relating to adoption and to individuals who intend to undertake domestic and intercountry adoption;

26. Receive, record and report from Charitable Children Institutions, adoption societies, parents and guardians, authorised officers and other relevant persons particulars of children available for adoption;

27. Consult with Charitable Children Institutions and adoption societies on matters relating to adoption;

28. Establish, maintain and update a register of children free for adoption and prospective adoptive parents;

29. Certify and declare a child free for adoption;

30. Establish, maintain and update a database of adopted children in consultation with the Registrar;

31. Promote co-operation between state agencies, local and non-state agencies concerned with matters relating to adoption with central adoption authorities in other countries including tracing and repatriation of children in need of care and protection;

32. Review and make recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary for approval of fees chargeable by adoption societies for the processing of applications for adoption;

33. Make recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary on matters relating to the fees chargeable for registration and licensing of adoption societies;

34. Monitor, prepare and submit to the Cabinet Secretary annual reports on matters relating to adoption.