A 22-year-old lady moved to the High Court in Eldoret to stop the burial of renowned marathoner Kelvin Kiptum, claiming that he fathered their baby girl aged one year and seven months. Edna Awuor Otieno alleged that she was on good terms with Kiptum before he died in a grisly road accident.
He had reportedly been taking good care of her and her daughter. She told the court that Kiptum had recognized her as part of his family until his death two weeks ago.
“The deceased had recognised me along with the minor and he took good care of us as part of his family until his death two weeks ago,” she told the court through her lawyer.
She further alleged that on the fateful day that Kiptum died, he communicated with her to know how the child was doing. He had reportedly promised to send her some money for her upkeep and other basic needs.
She also claimed that Kiptum’s family had refused to recognize her and also failed to include the minor’s name in the eulogy and other funeral arrangements as expected.
She was seeking orders to stop Kiptum’s burial and asked the court to issue an order for DNA samples to be taken from the body to be sent to the Kenya Medical Research Institute or any other public institution to establish the paternity of the minor. However, the magistrate declined her application, noting that the burial preparations were at an advanced stage.
Source: Link.