Kenya’s President, William Ruto, has responded to the backlash trailing his comments about Nigerian-accented English, saying his words were taken out of context and misrepresented online.
Ruto had come under criticism after remarks made during a meeting with Kenyans in Italy on April 20, where he suggested that Nigerian-accented English could be difficult to understand and might even require translation. He also contrasted it with Kenya’s English proficiency, a comment that quickly triggered reactions across social media, especially in Nigeria.
The statement drew pushback from several Nigerians who viewed it as disrespectful. Former Senator Shehu Sani, reacting on X, referenced Nigeria’s literary heritage, including Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and writers Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, saying the remarks were unnecessary.
Other social media users also urged the Kenyan president to focus more on domestic issues such as unemployment and the cost of living rather than comments that could strain relations between African countries.
Responding to the controversy in Nairobi on April 28, Ruto insisted he was misquoted and said the remarks were based on a private discussion that was later circulated out of context.
“I was misquoted. All of us in Africa speak good English. In fact, in countries like Nigeria, if you don’t speak excellent English like the one we speak in Kenya, you may need a translator,” he said.
He further explained that his comments were meant to highlight Africa’s general strength in English communication rather than to undermine any country, adding that differences in accent should not be mistaken for lack of proficiency.
Ruto maintained that his intention was not to insult Nigerians or any other African nation, but to emphasize unity and shared linguistic ability across the continent.
