Edna Awuor Otieno, the woman who moved to court in an attempt to stop the burial of world champion Kelvin Kiptum has claimed that the athlete was taking care of their child.
Awuor claims all along Kiptum had been providing for the child and her until his death.
In an interview with media, the woman claims on the day Kiptum was involved in the accident they talked on phone about their future.
“The child is one year and seven months, Kiptum was taking care of all our needs. On the fateful day, we spoke on phone only to learn about his death at midnight,” Edna told the reporters.
“I was living with but when I delivered, I went back to stay with my parents,” she added.
The accident involving World marathon holder occurred on February 11, 2024 around 11pm
On February 22nd, the High Court in Eldoret declined hear Awuor’s request for Kiptum burial to be stopped.
The court noted, “Burial arrangements of the deceased are at an advanced stage, and therefore, stopping the burial may be disruptive considering the resources that have been put into the preparation,”
On the issue of the minor, the judge said there are other legal avenues that the applicant can seek to prove paternity of the minor.
“The interest of the minor shall, therefore, not be curtailed by this order. The minor’s mother is, therefore, at liberty to use any other legal avenues to ensure that the rights of the child are well taken care of,” said the judge.
Awuor claims to have sired a daughter with the late Kiptum, who is one year and seven months old.
In her application, she wanted the court to stop the burial until she was recognised together with her child as beneficiaries of the estate of the deceased.
