Kenya’s domestic laws and policies provide a legal definition of “family” for the purposes of family reunification, primarily through the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011, the Marriage Act, 2014, the Refugees Act, 2021, and the Children Act, 2022. These laws establish the categories of family members eligible for reunification, with a particular focus on spouses, children, and dependents. The Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011, defines family within the context of immigration, recognizing spouses, biological and legally adopted children, and dependents as eligible for immigration benefits, including residency and citizenship by registration. The Marriage Act, 2014, further reinforces this definition by outlining recognized marital relationships, including civil, Christian, Hindu, Islamic, and customary marriages, while explicitly excluding same-sex unions. For refugees, the Refugees Act, 2021, and the Refugees (General) Regulations, 2024, adopt a similar approach by granting derivative refugee status to immediate family members, particularly spouses and children, ensuring that they receive protection alongside the principal refugee. Additionally, the Children Act, 2022, provides a broader definition of family by emphasizing the best interests of the child, recognizing legal guardians, adoptive parents, and caregivers as part of a child’s family unit for reunification purposes. These legal definitions align with Kenya’s commitments under international treaties, including the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1969 OAU Refugee Convention, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which emphasize the protection of family unity. Collectively, these laws provide a structured framework for defining family within Kenya’s legal system, ensuring that family reunification policies are clearly regulated across different categories of migrants, refugees, and citizens.