Kenyan President William Ruto has sparked widespread outrage after publicly ridiculing the way Nigerians speak English, boasting that Kenyans speak "some of the best English in the world."
Speaking to Kenyans living in Italy on Monday, Ruto said, "If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they are saying—you need a translator." His comments drew immediate backlash on social media, with many accusing him of demeaning a fellow African nation.
"English is a colonial language, not a measure of intelligence, capability, or national progress," wrote Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin'ono.
Both Kenya and Nigeria, former British colonies, use English as an official language but have developed distinct accents influenced by their indigenous languages. Nigeria alone has over 500 languages shaping its cadence, while Kenya's Bantu, Nilotic, and Cushitic languages create its own phonetic identity.
Ruto defended Kenya's education system, claiming it produces superior English proficiency. "Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world," he said, prompting laughter from the audience.
Critics were quick to point out Nigeria's literary achievements, including Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka and celebrated authors Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani posted on X: "Ruto is mocking the English of the country with a Nobel Prize for literature winner. The Nation of Achebe and Chimamanda."
Others urged Ruto to focus on pressing domestic issues like the cost of living and unemployment rather than engaging in what they called distractions.
The exchange is the latest in a series of online spats between Kenyans and Nigerians, often fueled by comparisons of economics, pop culture, and politics. Earlier this month, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu sparked backlash by claiming Nigerians were "better off than those in Kenya and other African countries."
While Ruto did not directly reference Tinubu, many interpreted his remarks as a response. There has been no official reaction from Ruto's government, but some Kenyans defended him, arguing critics missed the humor.
Nigeria has the highest number of English speakers in Africa, and its distinct "Nigerian English" continues to influence global language. Terms like "next tomorrow" (the day after tomorrow) have entered mainstream dictionaries, fueled by Nigeria's large diaspora, particularly in the UK.