Kimani Maruge

1920 (age 89)

In 2005 Maruge, who was 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. Maruge"s property was stolen during the 2007-2008 post-election violence, and he contemplated quitting school. During early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp, where he was reportedly a minor celebrity, four kilometers from his school, but still attended classes every day. In June 2008, he relocated to the capital Nairobi. In June 2008, Maruge was forced to withdraw from school and relocate to a retirement home for senior citizens. However, soon after, on June 10, 2008, Maruge enrolled once again into Standard 6 at the Marura primary school, located in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi. Maruge was then using a wheelchair. He was a combatant in the Mau Mau Uprising against the British colonizers in the 1950s. Maruge died on August 14, 2009 of stomach cancer, at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. He was buried at his farm in Subukia. On 12 January 2015, on the 11th anniversary of his first day of school, Google"s homepage was about Kimani Maruge.

Kimani Maruge

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Background

Although he had no papers to prove his age, Maruge believed he was born in 1920.

Education

Maruge attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret, Kenya. He said that the government"s announcement of universal and free elementary education in 2003 prompted him to enroll.

Career

In 2005 Maruge, who was 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. Maruge"s property was stolen during the 2007-2008 post-election violence, and he contemplated quitting school.

During early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp, where he was reportedly a minor celebrity, four kilometers from his school, but still attended classes every day.

In June 2008, he relocated to the capital Nairobi. In June 2008, Maruge was forced to withdraw from school and relocate to a retirement home for senior citizens.

However, soon after, on June 10, 2008, Maruge enrolled once again into Standard 6 at the Marura primary school, located in the Kariobangi area of Nairobi. Maruge was then using a wheelchair.

He was a combatant in the Mau Mau Uprising against the British colonizers in the 1950s.

Maruge died on August 14, 2009 of stomach cancer, at the Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. He was buried at his farm in Subukia. On 12 January 2015, on the 11th anniversary of his first day of school, Google"s homepage was about Kimani Maruge.

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Kimani Maruge

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