Eldoret: Standoff In Court As Woman Brings Dead Man's Belongings As Evidence Of Their Marriage

• A woman identified as Lovena Lagat shocked a court in Eldoret after she brought clothes, documents, and the diary of a deceased man to prove their marriage
• Lagat, who claims to be married to the late Elijah Murkomen, said she knew about his first family after his death
• She went to court to allow their three children to be included in the sharing of the deceased's multi-million estate

Drama ensued at the High Court in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu on Tuesday, May 21, after a woman brought out a deceased man's belongings as evidence of their marriage.

Justice Reuben Nyakundi watched in utter disbelief as Lovena Lagat presented clothes, a diary, school fees receipts, and other personal documents belonging to her late husband, Elijah Murkomen.

"I was married to Murkomen since 1998. We have three children together, I learned of his first family after his death, and that I was his second wife. These are some of the clothes he kept in our house," she told the court.

Through his advocate, Richard Wafula, as reported by People's Daily, the Postal Corporation Kenya employee said they lived with the deceased, a senior Kenya Forest Officer, in different towns including Timboroa, and her current home in Bungoma county.

Why Lovena Lagat is ready for a paternity test

With the succession of a multi-million estate, a bone of contention leading the family to settle in the court corridors, Lagat asked the court to allow her and her three children to be recognised as beneficiaries of the deceased's estates.

She said she was ready to have a paternity test after the deceased first wife, Georgina Mbithe, questioned the paternity of her children and sidelined them from the deceased estates.

"I am ready to have my children undergo a DNA test if it is required to ascertain that they are the children of the deceased," she added.

Why the matter is in court

According to Lagat, the family had a peaceful agreement on the distribution of the deceased's property among his three wives and children.

However, Mbithe, the first wife, dismissed the agreement and filed a case in court challenging the decision.

Drama in court as woman opposes suspects being released

In December 2023, a woman identified as Grace Muiruri caused drama at an Eldoret court after a judge allowed the suspect in her husband's murder to be released on bond.

Muiruri told the court that releasing the two suspects would tamper with the investigations as the two were familiar with the area.

Her request was later granted by the court following her pleas, after the judge pushed the bond application dates.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke