Kimani Maruge

Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge (c. 1920 – August 14, 2009) was a Kenyan man who held the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person to leave primary school, having enrolled on January 12, 2004, aged 84.[1] 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 primary school education in 2003 prompted him to enroll.

In 2005 Maruge, who was a model student, was elected head boy of his school. He was handed the responsibility to orient and nurture the students in the school.

In September 2005, Maruge boarded a plane for the first time in his life. He was headed to New York City to address the United Nations 2005 World Summit on the importance of free primary and secondary education for all.[2]

  1. ^ BBC News, May 25, 2004: Kenya's record-breaking OAP pupil
  2. ^ BBC News, September 8, 2005: Kenya OAP school pupil flies high