The 84-year-old primary school pupil
How Kimani Maruge became the oldest man to start primary school. The 84-year-old great grandfather studied at the Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Kenya.
In 2004, Kimani Maruge became the oldest man to start primary school when he enrolled at the Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Kenya.
The 84-year-old student was a former soldier who had fought against colonial rule in the Mau Mau independence movement.
He missed out on school as a child so when the Kenyan government scrapped all fees for state primary education, he saw his chance to finally learn to read and write.
Kimani's former teacher Jane Obinchu tells Vicky Farncombe how his story inspired people all over the world.
(Photo: Kimani Maruge attends class at Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Kenya. Credit: Reuters/Thomas Mukoya)
Last on
Broadcasts
- Tue 10 Oct 2023 07:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Tue 10 Oct 2023 11:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
- Tue 10 Oct 2023 17:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Tue 10 Oct 2023 21:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Wed 11 Oct 2023 02:50GMTΒι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service
Featured in...
African history—Witness History
Listen to and download our programmes
Podcast
-
Witness History
History as told by the people who were there