My dream is unstoppable, says Kilifi man who joins Form One at 74
74-year-old Kazungu Kadenge (right) when he joined Form One at Ganze Boys Secondary School on February 2, 2017. With him is Ganze MCA Japhet Nzaro. Mzee Kadenge now becomes the oldest person in Kilifi County to join high school. PHOTO | PHOTOS | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- He reported to the school accompanied by Ganze MCA Japheth Nzaro and a host of relatives.
- He scored 134 marks in the 2016 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam.
- Kadenge joined Ganze Primary School after the national government introduced the adult learning me in all public schools.
A new chapter in quest for education was opened Thursday in Ganze, Kilifi County after 74-year-old Kazungu Kadenge joined Ganze Boys Secondary School.
The old man from Kimbule Village reported to the school accompanied by Ganze MCA Japheth Nzaro and a host of relatives, fulfilling one of his childhood dreams of getting formal education.
He said he aspires join the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) after completing his education in order to help fight graft in the country.
When the Daily Nation highlighted his story in 2016, a determined Mzee Kadenge, who was then a primary school candidate said he wanted to join high school, then proceeds to university.
He scored 134 marks in the 2016 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam.
“My dream is unstoppable. I have strived for it and I will not relent until I join the EACC to fight graft in this country.
“Those who thought I was a joker should now get it clear. I am destined to good education and nothing can stop me from achieving it,” he said.
Mzee Kazungu Kadenge talks to a relative at Kimbule Village before he reported to Ganze Boys High School. PHOTO | PHOTOS | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
ADULT EDUCATION
The father of seven decided to join Ganze Primary School after the national government introduced the adult learning me in all public schools.
“I also decided to go back to learn after some people stole my money through mobile phone because I did not know how to operate it,” he said.
Mzee Kadenge, who at one moment escaped death by whisker only to witness the killing of his elder brother on witchcraft allegations, said Ganze has to change this time and it is the people who will bring that change.
He is also founded Kimbule Primary School in 2000.
But as fate would have it, he was kicked out of the school’s management due to illiteracy.
That also prompted him to go back to school.
Isiah Kadenge, Mzee Kadenge’s son who is a Form Four student in the same school his father has joined. PHOTO | PHOTOS | KAZUNGU SAMUEL | NATION MEDIA GROUP
RURAL LIFE
“As a young boy struggling in this rural life, my father denied me chance to go to school but instead I was forced to look after our livestock. As I grew older, I had to turn to other manual jobs to sustain myself,” he said.
“A white man employed me in his farm before I secured a job as casual labour with Kenya Power in 1982,” he added.
He left the company after he was involved in an accident.
Mzee Kadenge has now joined two of his sons, Isaiah Kadenge who is in Form Four, and another son who is in Form Two in the same school.
“I need to be close to my children so that I can monitor them. And this is because I want the best for them,” he added.
He is advocating for the elderly to go back to school and also wants the rampant killings of old people on witchcraft allegations to end.
