The High Court in Eldoret has declined to stop the burial of marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum.

This comes after a 22 year-old filed an application at the court seeking to have the burial suspended, claiming to have sired a child with the marathoner.

Through the application filed by her lawyer, Edna Owuor sort to block the funeral stating that proceeding with the burial would be a violation of the child’s rights .

Her lawyer Joseph Oyaro told the court that Owuor wanted the body of Kiptum presented to the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), for purposes of a DNA test to determine her child’s paternity. This request was however denied by the court.

“The applicant is apprehensive that should the burial go on as planned without paternity being established, the minor’s welfare will be in jeopardy,” read court papers.

She further alleged that they, she and her child, had been left out of ongoing funeral arrangements demanding that the minor be recognized as a beneficiary of Kiptum’s estate.

While declining the application, Eldoret High court judge Justice Wananda noted that the burial arrangements have been ongoing for a while and putting a halt would incur hefty losses of the funds.

Kiptum who according to Government Pathologist Dr. Johansen Oduor died from severe head trauma sustained during a car crash is set to be buried on Friday, February 23,  two days after his couch Gervais Hakizimana, who was laid to rest in his home country Rwanda.

The Kenyan government donated Ksh 5 million to the family.

Kelvin Kiptum will be accorded a State funeral with the Head of State William Ruto in attendance 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.

A burial ceremony is set to be held tomorrow, which will see Kiptum laid to his final resting place in Naiberi, Uasin Gishu County.