Kimani Maruge learned to read and write at 84

AFRICA, KENYA - Mzee Kimani Maruge in class as a teacher marks his book. Mzee Kimani Maruge was the Oldest Student to enrol in Primary school until his death in August 2009 of stomach cancer.



Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge (c. 1920 - August 14, 2009) holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to start primary school—he enrolled in the first grade on January 12th 2004, aged 84. Although he had no papers to prove his age, Maruge believed he was born in 1920.

Maruge attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret, Kenya; he said that the government's announcement of universal and free elementary education in 2003 prompted him to enroll.




In 2005 Maruge, who was a model student, was elected head boy of his school.

In September 2005, Maruge boarded a plane for the first time in his life, and headed to New York City to address the United Nations Millennium Development Summit on the importance of free primary education

He was a combatant in the Mau Mau Uprising against the British colonizers in the 1950s.


Robbery

Maruge's property was stolen during the 2007-2008 post-election violence, and he contemplated quitting school. During early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp, where he was reportedly a minor celebrity, four kilometers from his school, but still attended classes every day. In June 2008, he relocated to the capital Nairobi.

In June 2008, Maruge was forced to withdraw from school and relocate to a retirement home for senior citizens. However, soon after, on June 10, 2008, Maruge enrolled once again into grade 6 at the Marura primary school, located in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi.

Feature film The First Grader

A film about Kimani Maruge, starring Oliver Litondo and Naomie Harris titled The First Grader, is set to be released on May 13, 2011. The British-produced film was shot on location in the Rift Valley in Kenya, despite earlier reports that it would be filmed in South Africa.

Director Justin Chadwick said: "We could have shot it in South Africa, but Kenya has this unbelievable, inexplicable energy - inherent in the children, and the people we were making the film about"

Maruge died on August 14, 2009 of stomach cancer, at the Cheshire Home for the Aged in Nairobi. He was buried at his farm in Subukia

When Mzee Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge burst into public limelight when he enrolled for primary school education at the age of 84 in 2004, many dismissed it as a bad joke and a public stunt driven too far. But when this great-grandfather finally departed to his grave on August 14, 2009 of stomach cancer at the Cheshire Home for the Aged in Kariobangi North, Nairobi, he not only left a sweeping legacy that defied the odds in education and proved to many that it's never too late to salvage a dream, but had his name firmly inscribed in the coveted Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to start primary school.

Maruge, who believed he was born in 1920, attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret, Kenya. His trials to go to school before had proved fruitless. His renewed interest in education, he said, was as a result of the government's decision to provide free primary education. While in school, Maruge commanded the respect of his classmates (grandchildren) and teachers and abode by the school rules and regulations. His socks were always pulled to the base of his knees, his hair was always well kempt and he reported to school early and frequent enough. With such discipline, he was made a prefect in the school. The 2007-2008 post-election violence that hit Kenya did not spare the old man. His property was stolen and his house in the Rift Valley was burnt down in the violence and he found himself living at an agricultural showground housing 14,000 displaced people, before he was later moved to the home for the aged. But even with such difficult situations, he continued with his hard work and swore to pursue university education. A veteran of Kenya's 1950s Mau Mau independence movement, Mr. Maruge said he was inspired to start learning when he suspected a preacher was misinterpreting the Bible. 'Mzee' Maruge also said he wanted to learn to count the money he was expecting to receive in compensation from the authorities for fighting against the British during the Mau Mau uprising. In September 2005, Maruge boarded a plane for the first time in his life, in a UN-sponsored trip to New York, simply the highlight of his life. Maruge addressed the United Nations Millennium Development Summit on the importance of free primary education and called on world leaders at the summit to make education for the poor a priority. On Sunday May 24, 2009 the father-of-five was baptised at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Kariobangi and took a Christian name, Stephen. Maruge died on August 14 aged 90, at the Chesire Home for the aged in Kariobangi North, where he was staying, from complications of stomach cancer. He was aged 89 and was buried in his farm in Subukia, Rift Valley Province, Kenya. In his everlasting quest for more knowledge, Mzee Maruge left many in urgent need to rethink education and not take it for granted.