Kimani Maruge

Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to start primary school -- he enrolled first grade in 2004 aged 84. [BBC News, May 25, 2004: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3746101.stm Kenya's record-breaking OAP pupil] ] Although he has no papers to prove his age, Maruge believes he was born in 1920.

Maruge attends Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret, Kenya, he said that the governments announcement of universal and free elementary education in 2003 prompted him to enroll.

Maruge is a widower and a great-grandfather (two of his 30 grandchildren attend the same school). He was a combatant in the Mau Mau Uprising against the British colonizers in the 1950s.

In 2005 Maruge, who is 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. [BBC News, September 8, 2005: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4225824.stm Kenya OAP school pupil flies high] ]

His property was stolen during 2007-2008 post-election violence and he contemplated quitting school [The Standard, January 14, 2008: [http://eastandard.net/news/?id=1143980355&cid=159 Displaced Maruge may miss school] ] . As of early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp (where he is reportedly a minor celebrity) four kilometers from his school, but still attended classes every day [Globe and Mail, March 20, 2008: [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080320.wschoolboy0320/BNStory/International/home Kenya's 88-year-old schoolboy] ] . In June 2008 he relocated to the capital Nairobi [The Standard, June 7, 2008: [http://eastandard.net/news/?id=1143987977&cid=159 Maruge relocates to Nairobi] ] .

In spring, 2008, Maruge was forced to withdraw from school and relocate to a retirement home for senior citizens. [BBC, June 6, 2008: [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7441208.stm Kenyan OAP pupil taken into care ] ] . However, soon after, on June 10th 2008, Maruge enrolled once again into grade 6 at the Marura primary school located in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi.

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