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Kimani Maruge

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Student

The Resume

    (circa 1920-August 14, 2009)
    Born in Kenya
    Full name was Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge
    'The World's Oldest First Grader'
    Enrolled in the Kapkenduiywo primary school in Eldoret, in western Kenya, at the age of 84 (Jan. 12, 2004)
    As of 2016, holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest person to start primary school
    Was baptized at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Kariobangi, with the name Stephen (May 24, 2009)
    Portrayed by Oliver Litondo in the acclaimed independent film based on his life story, 'The First Grader' (2010)

Why he might be annoying:

    His name sounds like Khmer Rouge.
    He went to the same school as his grandchildren.
    There is a lack of clarity over his birth date (though most pinpoint it around 1920).
    He was a combatant in the Mau Mau Uprising against the British colonizers in the 1950s.
    He was elected 'head boy' of his Primary School (it didn't hurt that he had a lopsided 70-year head-start advantage).
    He did look a bit gangly dressed in the issued school-boy uniform (granted, he sold his goat for a pair of pants that he modified for school-boy shorts).
    The popular movie depicting his primary school experience has been accused of sugar-coating (or outright misrepresenting) the harsh reality of his life.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He was the grandfather of 19 (and great-grandfather to one).
    He was the father of fifteen kids, but he outlived all but four of them.
    He was tortured by colonialists during the Kenyan war for independence, losing a foot as a result.
    He was dependent on a cane to move around when he started attending, but by the end of his life was confined to a wheelchair.
    He was taunted and mocked by his neighbors for his attempts to better himself through schooling.
    He was repeatedly turned away by the school headmaster, but his persistence ultimately won him admission.
    His family later confided that he sought to become literate so that he could read the Bible.
    His Rift Valley home was torched during post-election ethnic clashes in 2008.
    He was forced into in a crowded refugee displacement camp, but continued to pursue his education even then.
    He was eventually moved by Red Cross workers into an old-age home, where he continued to attend school.
    He spoke at the United Nations Millennium Development Summit, advocating for free primary education in other third-world countries.
    He was living proof that it is never too late to change the course/direction of your life for the better.

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 18 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying