Kenyan President William Ruto has moved to clarify a recent comment about Nigeria that sparked mixed reactions online, insisting that his remarks were taken out of context and were intended to highlight Africa’s strong command of the English language.
Speaking while addressing Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, Ruto extended greetings to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians, describing them as his “in-laws,” while emphasizing linguistic excellence across the continent.
“Please pass my regards, Minister (Dele Alake), to President Tinubu, my friend, and to the great people of Nigeria, who are my in-laws, and do so in good English,” Ruto said.
The Kenyan leader explained that his original statement was meant as a comparative observation about how well Africans speak English, citing Nigeria as an example of linguistic proficiency. “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,” he said.
Ruto stressed that the comment was not intended to offend but to underscore shared strengths, noting that it had been misrepresented in public discourse. “So that was the comparison, but somebody decided to take it out of context. But I think it is as well that we can have this conversation,” he added.
In a conciliatory tone, the president expressed hope that the remarks would not strain relations, particularly given his personal ties to Nigeria. “And my in-laws, I hope there will be no consequences for whatever was done,” he said.
