An attempt by three people, a woman and two men claiming to be the children of the late Mzee Jackson Kibor, to stop the burial has flopped.
This is after an Eldoret court declined to grant the prayers of the three applicants, who wanted the family stopped from burying the late businessman and farmer until they are recognized as legitimate children.
The case certified as urgent came up for hearing on April 1, 2022, the same day the burial was planned.
It however emerged that the applicants had not served the respondents on time as directed by the court. This led to those named in the case, among them Yunita Kibor – Mzee Kibor’s fourth wife, and Phillip, the elder son failing to file their responses on time.
The parties were also not present in court – as the burial mass on already underway when the case came up for hearing before Eldoret Senior Resident Magistrate Barnabas Kiptoo.
“In the absence of the parties, the matter cannot proceed. I direct the matter to be heard on April 19 before court three,” directed the Magistrate.
The case will now proceed for hearing on April 19, 2022, basically dealing a blow to the three who also wanted DN samples taken from Mzee Kibor’s body for a paternity test.
In their case filed on March 28, 2022, the three Albert Elodanga Kibor, Elizabeth Chemutai Koskei, and Joseph Kimeli claim they were fathered by Mzee Kibor who had a romantic relationship with their respective mothers.
They accused the family of blocking them from participating in the burial plans, even though, the sworn affidavits say they had been recognized by the late Mzee Kibor as legitimate children.
Already the family had gone ahead with burial plans, and Mzee Kibor is set to be buried at Kabenes in Ziwa.
Several political leaders are attending the burial mass, among them Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago, Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi, and his Soy counterpart Caleb Kositany as well as Uasin Gishu Woman Representative Gladys Boss.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga was also expected to attend the burial.
