Kenyan President William Ruto has come under heavy criticism on social media after remarks perceived as mocking the English spoken by Nigerians during a diaspora engagement in Italy.
Ruto, who addressed Kenyans living abroad on Monday, claimed that Nigerians speak English in a way that is difficult to understand and may require interpretation.
“If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don’t know what they are saying. You need a translator,” he was quoted as saying.
He contrasted this with Kenya, praising his countrymen for what he described as strong English proficiency and accent.
“Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world,” Ruto added, drawing laughter from parts of the audience.
The Kenyan leader’s comments have since triggered widespread backlash across social media platforms, particularly among Nigerians and other Africans who viewed the remarks as disrespectful.
Many critics accused him of undermining a fellow African country, while others argued that language should not be used as a measure of intelligence or development.
“English is a colonial language, not a measure of intelligence, capability or national progress,” Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono wrote on X.
Kenya and Nigeria, both former British colonies, use English as an official language, though each has developed distinct local variations shaped by indigenous languages and cultural influences.
Nigeria, with over 500 indigenous languages, has developed a widely recognised local form of English, while Kenya’s linguistic diversity also influences its own accent and expression.
In Nigeria, English has evolved into a unique variant often referred to as Nigerian English, which continues to influence global usage and appears in international dictionaries.
Social media reactions also referenced past exchanges between both countries, with users accusing Ruto of unnecessary comparisons at a time of domestic economic challenges.
As of press time, there has been no official clarification from the Kenyan presidency, although some supporters online defended the remarks as light-hearted comments that were taken out of context.
