Maruge buried

The world oldest student Stephen Maruge was on Monday evening laid to rest at Arashi - B farm in Subukia.

Thousands of people and his classmates turned out to pay tribute to the 89-year-old student who died last weekend from colon cancer.

Maruge stunned the world when he joined standard one when the free primary education was introduced in 2003.

He had been a symbol of hope for the free primary education program, an initiative by the NARC government in 2003.

The principal at Kapkenduiywa primary in Eldoret says in her 30 years career she has not met a determined pupil like Maruge.

The area MP Peter Gaichuhie paid glowing tribute to Murage while Nakuru Town MP Lee Kinyanjui delivered the president's speech.

Lee said when the free primary education was introduced many were skeptical about it but Maruge demonstrated a rare spirit of resilience by enrolling as a pupil in 2004.

He was recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's oldest pupil and was set to achieve his dream of reading the Bible before the 2007 post-election violence rooted him from Eldoret.

Maruge died two weeks ago at Chesire Home for the Aged where he has been battling stomach cancer.

He was forced to withdraw from school at Kapkenduiywo and relocate to a retirement home for senior citizens last year after the post election violence.

He was 89 years old when he enrolled in standard ine in 2004.

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

Maruge attended Kapkenduiywo Primary School in Eldoret before relocating to Nairobi in June last year after the post election violence.

He enrolled once again into standard six at Marura primary school in the Kariobangi area, Nairobi.

Maruge was a widower with two of his 30 grandchildren attending his former school alongside their grandfather.

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

In 2005 Maruge, who was a model student was elected head boy of his former 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.

His property was stolen during 2007-2008 post-election violence and he contemplated quitting school.

As of early 2008 he lived in a refugee camp four kilometers from his former school, but still attended classes every day.

Early this year his health deteriorated and he was moved to the home where he was also baptised at the Kariobangi Catholic Church.