Tallest student, Jackline Mwende hopes for a Basketball career

Kenya: At a height of 6 feet 9 inches, Jackline Mwende, 14, is a towering figure. To bring her impressive height into perspective, the Form Two student at Gikurune Girls High School in Imenti South, Meru County, is taller than American professional basketball player LeBron Raymone, who stands at 6 ft 8 in and is just inches shy of NBA basketball great Shaquille O’Neal, who towers at 7 ft 1in.

When Generation Next caught up with Mwende said her favourite subjects are English and Kiswahili and she one day hopes to join the media. KTN’s Betty Kyalo is her role model.

Her teachers and mates say she is enthusiastic, hard-working and committed to her studies. Mrs Riungu, the school’s principal, describes Mwende as an obedient student who is willing to learn.

“When her grandmother told us that she was very tall and would probably be a challenge to us, we had no idea she was this tall. When we eventually met her, we thought her height might affect her self-esteem, but were pleasantly surprised to learn that it was the opposite. She is very likable and assertive. When she has a problem, she raises it without fear. She also makes friends easily,” Mrs Purity Riungu told Generation Next.

In fact, when she joined our institution, Mwende turned down an offer to have a special bed and locker made for her. She wanted to have the same facilities and treatment as other students and we respected that,” said the principal, who despite standing at 5 ft 9 in tall, is still somewhat dwarfed by her teenage student. Despite her request, however, Mwende has to take the front seat with the driver in case she is to go out in the school bus.

As expected, Mwende attracts curious stares wherever she goes with people stopping to see her pass.

“Some request to take pictures with me or of me. At first, I was not comfortable with people stopping their activities to watch me walk past, accompanied my school mates or grandmother during the holidays. This made my grandmother Abishag Mbae very protective of me. Purity Mbae, my mother, is currently away studying and working, so I live with my grandmother at Nthimbiri, in Imenti North,” she says.

“It became a habit for her to accompany me on most outings. She is a very helpful companion. With time, however, my confidence grew and I began to appreciate my uniqueness. Today, I am honoured when someone asks me to pose for photos with them!” Mwende, who is an active member of the school’s basketball team, told this writer.

Mwende works very hard on her fitness and basketball skills with the aim of improving both.

Apart from her height, Mwende, born on December 25, 1995, also brings attention to her unique birth date.

“I just want to put my talents to good use and become successful. I actually look up to Betty Kyalo of KTN, because she is so good at what she does as a television anchor. I love the Friday Briefing and seldom miss it,” says Mwende, who lists music, making new friends and visiting new places as her hobbies.

In case you are wondering, Rumeysa Gelgi holds the Guinness World Record title of Tallest Teenager (female) in the world. The 17-year-old Turk stands at a height of 7ft 0.09in. It has been reported, however, by various media that Rumeysa has been told by experts that she is not expected to grow any further. This means that she is unlikely to beat the record of Tallest Living Person and fellow countryman, Sultan Kösen, who measures 8ft 3 in. Rumeysa’s record will, nonetheless, feature in the 2015 Guinness World Records book, out in September. The Tallest Ever Female Teenager is Canadian Anna Haining Swan, who was recorded to reach a height of 7ft 11in between August 1846 and August 1888). At her age Mwende has a chance of qualifying to be named in the Guinness Book of World Records some day. In the meantime, Generation Next wishes the upcoming basketball player and future media practitioner all the best.