Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge, the great-grandfather held the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to start primary school, at the age of 84. He later died at the age of 89 in Kariobangi Retirement home for senior citizens.
Just a few months ago, Maruge was reported to have stopped from attending school after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.
Maruge who died at the advanced age was struggling to eat and had to be assisted to move around using a wheelchair. He was a Standard Seven pupil Marura primary school located in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi.
Maruge first attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret before he moved to Nairobi. He said the government’s announcement of universal and free elementary education in 2003 prompted him to enroll.
He said knowing how to read the Bible and count money were the two main factors that motivated him to enroll.
In 2003 when the NARC government introduced free Primary education the old man decided to took advantage of it and enrolled in Class One in a primary school in Eldoret.
In as much as his move attracted mixed reactions, some of which discouraged him from pursuing his dream to acquire education, Maruge went on to school and attended the same class with his grand children.
Some parents at the school Maruge enrolled demanded that he be discontinued arguing that his advanced age was distracting their children from concentrating in class.
