Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge, the oldest student in the world, is dead.
Kimani, 89, who was baptized on 24 May, 2009 during the celebration of the World Communications day at Kariobangi Holy Trinity parish in Nairobi, taking “Stephen” as his patron saint, passed away at noon on friday August 14, 2009, according to his Parish Priest, Fr. Paulino Mondo.
Stephen Kimani’s determination to get education despite his advanced age won him accolades world over when he enrolled for primary education in 2004, aged at 84 when Kenyan government introduced the free primary education in the country, a feat that made him claim his place in history and the Guiness book of records, as the oldest student.
He had declared that one of his reasons for going back to class was to learn how to read bible.
His education was briefly disrupted by the post election violence that rocked Kenya in December 2007/ January 2008, rendering him an internally displaced person, with the church coming to his rescue when he was relocated from violence hit Eldoret town in Rift Valley to Nairobi, where he enrolled at Marura primary school in Kariobangi, while being sheltered at the nearby church owned Cheshire home for the vulnerable persons.
According to Fr. Paulino, Mzee Stephen Maruge was suffering from stomach cancer.
Kimani, 89, who was baptized on 24 May, 2009 during the celebration of the World Communications day at Kariobangi Holy Trinity parish in Nairobi, taking “Stephen” as his patron saint, passed away at noon on friday August 14, 2009, according to his Parish Priest, Fr. Paulino Mondo.
Stephen Kimani’s determination to get education despite his advanced age won him accolades world over when he enrolled for primary education in 2004, aged at 84 when Kenyan government introduced the free primary education in the country, a feat that made him claim his place in history and the Guiness book of records, as the oldest student.
He had declared that one of his reasons for going back to class was to learn how to read bible.
His education was briefly disrupted by the post election violence that rocked Kenya in December 2007/ January 2008, rendering him an internally displaced person, with the church coming to his rescue when he was relocated from violence hit Eldoret town in Rift Valley to Nairobi, where he enrolled at Marura primary school in Kariobangi, while being sheltered at the nearby church owned Cheshire home for the vulnerable persons.
According to Fr. Paulino, Mzee Stephen Maruge was suffering from stomach cancer.
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Kimani Maruge has challenged me enough by his desire to embrace education despite his age. May God rest him in eternal peace.
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