Update: Court rules on son case seeking to stop Ntimama burial

The High Court before Justice Joseph Onguto has declined to certify urgent veteran politician William Ole Ntimama’s alleged son application to temporarily stop his burial.

George Njoroge Kariuki, 46, had moved to court Friday to stop the burial of former Cabinet Minister William Ole Ntimama slated for Wednesday, September 14 in Narok.

Mr Kariuki alias George Njoroge Ntimama argued the late Ntimama fathered him in 1969 and later abandoned his mother, who raised him as sole parent.

Mr Kariuki is sought a court order to allow him extract tissue specimen from the deceased’s body to enable him conduct DNA test to affirm his claims. He also wanted the court to issue temporary injunctions stopping Kilimani local chief from issuing burial permit and Lee funeral home be barred from releasing the body of the late politician.

Justice Joseph Onguto has however declined to grant Mr Kariuki his wish, saying that the plaintiff could have raised the issue earlier. The judge declined to issue any temporary order, saying the matter can still be heard even after the burial of William Ole Ntimama takes place.

The case will be heard on September 25, 2016.

Mr Kariuki says he learnt from his late mother in 1998 that he is a son to Ntimama after enquiring about his father’s whereabouts. He says people kept on telling him that he resembled Ntimama.

Njoroge says he did not come out then for fear that he would receive hostile treatment from Ntimama’s immediate family.

Njoroge further says that he would have loved to attend his “father’s” burial as he is deeply affected by his death but he is not certain on how his extended family will receive him.

He is afraid that if the court hesitates to issue the orders he is seeking, his late “father” will be buried and he will stand a chance of losing inheritance of is “father’s” property.

Preparations for Ntimama burial are underway in Narok County.

Ntimama died on September 1 at Olchoro in Narok.