People I admire

Kimani Murage was a true inspiration to most of the people who heard about him, knew him or even watched or read about him. Being the oldest school boy in the world is not an easy fit. When your agemates are busy taking care of their grandchildren, yet you are busy trying to go to school with even your own grandchildren, I doubt this would be a source of pride for most of us but it was for Maruge. He wanted to go to school so that he could read the Bible (he suspected a preacher of misinterpretation) and be able to count money. He was proud to be able to have a chance to go to school and "hung out" with the kids who he called his grandchildren (2 of them actually were biological) and he promised to tell them stories about our country's history. Sounds interesting having a classmate that actually experienced all that stuff you read during history class.



My admiration for this man is humongous. He went to school at 85yrs old and gave it his all, his "syke" and excitement of moving from unknown to the known was not derailed of even dampened after he go to school, it apparently increased. I admire him because he did with passion what I usually do complaining, going to school. He once said he wanted to be a doctor when he completed his studies.

Today, I pay tribute to a great man, though belatedly. Great not because he is in the Guiness Book of Records but because he taught me and many others, it's never too late to go after your dreams. He taught me that nothing is beyond my reach if I stretch out to reach for it. He also taught me that sometimes the hand that feeds you can also poison the food it feeds you.

Maruge loved Kibaki for introducing Free Education that helped him(Maruge) to go back to school after so many years, but come 2007 Maruge was displaced thanks to Kibaki and Raila's greed for power. Maruge couldn't go to school anymore, he had no home anymore. Come 14th August 2009 at 89yrs of age, he succumbed to Stomach Cancer at the Cheshire home where he had been relocated by well wishers.



Goodbye Kimani Maruge, you fought a good fight and had not only sight but also a vision.