Kenyan President William Ruto has sparked controversy after suggesting that Nigerian-accented English is difficult to understand, saying it often requires translation when spoken.
Ruto made the remark while addressing Kenyans living in Italy on Monday, where he praised Kenya’s education system and claimed it produces some of the best English speakers in the world.
Using Nigeria as an example, he said: “If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don’t know what they are saying. You need a translator even when they are speaking English,” a comment that drew laughter from the audience.
The remarks come days after President Bola Tinubu said Nigerians are “better off than those in Kenya and other African countries” despite economic challenges, a comparison that has already stirred debate across political and public circles.
Although Ruto did not directly reference Tinubu, his comments have been widely interpreted as a response, adding to growing diplomatic and online discussions, while opposition figures such as Peter Obi have also criticised reliance on political comparisons without data-driven analysis.