Curtain falls on world’s oldest student Gogo Priscilla aged 99

A grandmother who inspired many after she joined the school 11 years ago has died aged 99 years, her family confirmed yesterday.

Gogo Priscilla Sitienei, as she was fondly referred to, was a pupil at Vision Preparatory School, Ndalat, in Nandi county.

She made history when she starred in a French film, ‘Gogo Priscilla’ (Granny Priscilla) a year ago. Yesterday, grandson Sammy Chepsiror said she died peacefully at her home on Wednesday.

 The octogenarian, who was in Class Seven, is believed to have been the world’s oldest pupil after Kimani Maruge (deceased) from Uasin-Gishu County.  According to Chepsiror, his grandmother died at 5 am yesterday, hours after seeking treatment at Royal Hospital in Turbo, Uasin Gishu county.

Chest pains

 “Granny had been in good health and attending her classes. However, recently, she started complaining of chest pains, which forced her to miss school,” said Chepsiror.

 He said his grandmother had started developing age-related complications but her situation was not serious until this week when she was rushed to the facility and died peacefully in her sleep.

Gogo Sitienei will be remembered for her many decades of service to the community where she helped attend to expectant women as a traditional midwife until 2011 when she opted to acquire education at the age of 89.

Leaders in the region, led by Nandi Governor Stephen Sang, yesterday condoled with the family, describing Sitienei as an extraordinary person whose passion for education has inspired all generations on the value of life-long learning.

“Going to school at 90 years signifies the importance of education in transforming lives,” Governor Sang said in his condolence message.

 Gogo Priscilla landed at Eldoret International Airport as a heroine in September last year after spending weeks in France where she starred in the education film ‘Gogo Priscilla’.

 She was then received at the airport by her 73-year-old son and brother, 95, as well as classmates aged 11 and 12 years. She also travelled to various schools in France where she gave motivational talks to pupils. 

Gogo was the main character in the film produced by Ladybirds Cinema and directed by French filmmaker Pascal Plissom. A number of pupils comprise the film’s cast that is aimed at encouraging learners in parts of France to go to school.

 Gogo Sitienei’s thirst for knowledge was unrivalled, as shown by the way she interacted with her young classmates.

 Teachers at the school described her death as a huge blow, even as they described her as a disciplined pupil who always followed instructions and did her homework on time.