Nigerians react to Kenyan President's remark on 'spoken English'
Nigerians have expressed outrage online after Kenyan President William Ruto mocked their spoken English, suggesting that listeners often require a translator to understand them. In a video address to Kenyans
Nigerians have expressed outrage online after Kenyan President William Ruto mocked their spoken English, suggesting that listeners often require a translator to understand them.
In a video address to Kenyans in Italy this week, Ruto commended Kenya’s education system and proficiency in English.
“Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world. If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don’t know what they are saying. You need a translator,” he said.
He added that Kenya possesses strong human capital but requires further training to maximise its potential.
“We have some of the best human capital anywhere in the world. We just need to sharpen it with more training,” he said.
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The comments have since sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many Nigerians describing the remarks as condescending, inappropriate and unbecoming of a fellow African leader.
Critics argued that the statement overlooks Nigeria’s rich literary heritage and its global influence in music, film and business, where Nigerian English is widely recognised and celebrated.
While some Nigerians responded with humour, poking fun at Kenyan accents, others urged African leaders to prioritise pressing issues such as economic challenges and rising fuel costs rather than engaging in divisive rhetoric.
On X, user L! | Muslimah in Tech wrote, “OMG, Kenya don de sub us. Who we offend? Before na foreign country de give statistics up and down, now our fellow African counterpart said we no Sabi speak beta English.”
Another user, Tzalmon, said, “The other day it was the Ghanaian president and now Kenya’s president, and who knows perhaps we’d get a lash from Somalia one of these days.”
However, Ephrem said, “English not being universally strong, it has achieved significant economic progress English isn’t necessarily a measure of success.”
