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Witness History: The 84-year-old primary school pupil

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The 84-year-old primary school pupil

10/10/2023 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The 84-year-old primary school pupil

In 2004, Kenyan great grandfather Kimani Maruge became the oldest person to start school

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)

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