However, the High Court in Nairobi rejected the application and the funeral will take place as planned on Friday.
The woman claims that her 1.5-year-old daughter is fathered by Kiptum and is entitled to a share of the successful runner’s inheritance. They want to do a DNA test on Kiptum.
According to the woman, Kiptum has provided financial compensation to her and her daughter.
– The deceased has recognized me and my daughter and has taken good care of us as part of his family right up until the fatal accident two weeks ago, says the woman to the Kenyan Nation.
She and the daughter have been stopped from attending the funeral of Kiptum’s wife.
The funeral a national affair
The court considers that the planning of the funeral, which is a national matter, has gone too far in the preparations and cannot be stopped at this point. It is believed that there are also other ways to find out about kinship.
Mourners sang and held hands as they walked with the flower-strewn hearse where Kiptum’s casket was displayed open.
The journey will be over 80km between Eldoret and Chepsamo where Kiptum, who died in a car accident with his trainer, worked as a shepherd before becoming a professional runner.
Kiptum, who turned 24, set a world record by running 2.00.35 in Chicago in October and aimed to break the two-hour barrier in Rotterdam in April. He was also expected to make his Olympic debut in Paris this summer.
Kiptum had two children with his wife.