MARUGE, THE WORLD'S OLDEST PUPIL DIES AT 90

DAILY NATION
By PETER NG’ETICH
Friday, August 14 2009

The world’s oldest pupil, Mr Kimani Maruge, died on Friday at a Nairobi hospital after losing the battle against cancer.

Mr Maruge, 90, made history when he joined Kapkenduiywo Primary School in parts of western Kenya in 2004 to take advantage of free primary education introduce by the Narc government in 2003.

Mr Maruge once said he aspired to be a veterinary doctor.

In 2008, he was among thousands of learners who failed to report back to school due to post-election violence which rocked the country. His house in Eldoret and other belongings were also destroyed by protesters.

Langas Estate, where he used to live, experienced the worst violence, with 11 people being killed next to his house on December 31.

Mr Maruge was lucky to escape. He was later moved from Eldoret to Nairobi because he did not feel safe at his former home.

The Red Cross found him a shelter at the Chesire Home for the elderly in Nairobi.

A few months after being moved to Nairobi, he was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Mr Maruge, who holds the Guinness Book World Records for being the oldest person to start school, had been promoted to Standard Five as he excelled in 2007 end-year examinations where he was ranked 14 out of 58 pupils.

For the time he had been in school, he said the knowledge he acquired had enabled him to achieve his greatest desire – to read the Bible.

Kiswahili was his favourite subject as it enabled him to read his favourite verses.

His former teacher Jane Obinchu sent a message of condolence to Maruge’s family upon learning of the death on Friday.