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A 22-year-old woman who claims to have a child with world record holder Kelvin Kiptum revealed intricate details of her secret relationship with the marathoner on Thursday, February 22.
In her media statement, Edna Owuor described Kiptum as a loving father who took care of the baby’s needs. She mentioned that, before his tragic demise in a car accident, Kiptum had promised to send her money to support her financially.
“The last time I spoke with him was that Sunday when he informed me that he was coming to Eldoret and he would provide me with the cash I needed to cater to the baby’s needs,” she stated.
Edna explained that they shared an intimate relationship and lived together as a family. “We have been living together. The only time we didn’t is when I gave birth and had to go back to my parents’ home,” she added.
The 22-year-old claimed that Kiptum’s relatives failed to recognize her and the baby, and she was locked out of the burial process. She also alleged that the family chose not to include the minor in the eulogy.
She filed a petition in court to halt Kiptum’s burial process scheduled for Friday, February 23, pending the hearing of the case. She also sought an order for the athlete’s DNA sample to be taken to prove the baby’s paternity.
“I filed the petition because we sired a baby with the late Kiptum and sought legal grounds to ensure the baby’s taken care of. Now that he’s gone, I don’t know who will be assisting me to take care of the baby. She is one year and seven months,” Awuor remarked.
“It is also important that the court acknowledges the baby belongs to Kiptum.”
Justice Robert Wananda of the High Court, however, declined to grant the orders, confirming that the athlete’s burial was a matter of public interest. “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 in,” the judge ruled on Thursday, February 22.
In nearly related news, yesterday Kiptum’s widow, Asenath Rotich penned a heartfelt tribute to the late ahead of his burial.
In her Eulogy, Asenath celebrated Kiptum as the best husband and father to her children as she confessed to never envisioning staying with her kids without the runner’s presence.
She went on to reveal that they were set to have a colourful wedding this April.