He Was To Send Me Money- Kelvin Kiptum's Baby Mama On Their Relationship

The 22-year-old woman who moved to court seeking the suspension of the burial of world record holder Kelvin Kiptum based on allegedly siring a child with him has opened up on their secret relationship.

Speaking to the media, Edna Awuor praised Kiptum as a loving father who was always present for the baby's needs.

She claimed that the marathoner had promised to send her money to support her financially, hours before his demise in a car accident on Sunday, February 11.

"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.

Awuor further noted that she had been living with Kiptum from the onset of the intimate relationship, the only exception being the time she had to return to her parents' home when she gave birth.

"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 however claimed that Kiptum's relatives had failed to recognise her as well as the baby and also locked her out of the burial process. She also alleged that the family chose not to include the minor in the eulogy.

Citing her reason to move to court seeking the stoppage of Kiptum's burial set for Friday, February 23, Awuor insisted that she sired a baby with him and was at a loss in terms of who would help her take care of the child.

"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."

Awuor appeared in court while in the company of the child seeking to postpone the burial. However, Justice Robert Wananda of the High Court declined to issue the orders based on the burial being a matter of national 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.

Kiptum is set to be buried on Friday, February 23 in a state-accorded funeral, which was approved by the cabinet and will be attended by President William Ruto, among other dignitaries.

On Thursday at 9:00 a.m., the marathoner's body left the morgue in a funeral procession that is expected to head on to Eldoret town for a public body viewing ceremony.

The funeral procession headed to church for a funeral service before proceeding to his home in Naiberi, Iten, where he will be laid to rest.