President Ruto Makes U-turn On ‘Nigerians’ Spoken English’ Comment, Says Remarks Misrepresented

President William Ruto of Kenya has defended his recent remarks on the Nigerian English proficiency and education standards in comparison to those of Kenya, saying his comments, which sparked controversy online, were misinterpreted and taken out of context.

Speaking at the Mining Investment Conference and Expo in Nairobi, Kenya on Tuesday in a speech aired by NTV Kenya, Ruto said the comments were made during what he believed was a private conversation that later became public.

He said, “Somebody decided to take it out of context. But I think it is as well that we can have this conversation. And my in-laws, I hope there will be no consequences for whatever was done.”

“Please pass my regards, Minister, to President Tinubu, my friend, and to the great people of Nigeria, who are my in-laws, and do so in good English.

“And, you know, I was captured, I was speaking to my fellow citizens somewhere, and somebody, it was supposed to be a private conversation, but somebody decided that it should be public. But they also misrepresented the facts,” Ruto added.

The Kenyan president insisted that his remarks were intended to highlight the level of English proficiency across Africa and were not meant as an insult to Nigerians in particular.

“The facts are that I was talking about how we in Africa speak very good English, all of us. In fact, in some countries like Nigeria, if you don’t speak excellent English, like the one we speak in Kenya, you may need a translator, you know, for you to understand the excellent English of Nigeria.”

The clarification followed earlier remarks by Ruto in a viral video in which he praised Kenya’s education system and suggested it produced strong English speakers while apparently contrasting it with that of Nigeria.

In the clip circulating online, Ruto said, “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.”

Although the Kenyan leader did not directly mention any individual, the comments were widely interpreted online as a subtle response to earlie remarks by President Bola Tinubu during the latter’s visit to Bayelsa State on April 10, 2026, where the Nigerian president compared living conditions in Nigeria as better thanthose in other African countries, including Kenya.

The exchange has since generated reactions across social media, with many users debating the tone of both leaders’ comments and what they reveal about public communication among African heads of state.