Meet the World’s Oldest First Grader



Kimani Ng'ang'a Maruge, from Kenya, made history when he enrolled in first grade at the age of 84, becoming the world's oldest first grader. Born in 1920, Maruge faced limited educational opportunities like many rural Africans of his time. He spent his youth fighting for Kenya’s independence as part of the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s, enduring long periods in detention camps. Maruge's desire to learn was ignited by the Kenyan government's introduction of free primary education in 2003. Despite living a full life as a farmer, Maruge had always felt the limitations of illiteracy and yearned for the opportunities that education could provide. His primary goal was to read the Bible and manage personal tasks requiring literacy. When he heard about the free education initiative on the radio, Maruge saw it as a chance to fulfill his lifelong dream of learning to read and write. Maruge's determination to learn, despite initial opposition from parents and officials, highlights the transformative power of education and the importance of lifelong learning.