Ruto Defends Viral English Remarks About Nigerians, “I Was Misquoted”
President William Ruto set the record straight on Tuesday, addressing a viral video that captured him discussing English proficiency across the continent. Speaking at the Mining Summit in Nairobi, Ruto clarified that his remarks surfaced from what he believed was a private conversation with fellow citizens. He noted that the footage, which sparked widespread debate online, stripped his words of their original intent.
The president maintained a lighthearted tone throughout the explanation, drawing laughter and cheers from the summit audience. Ruto explained that his comments actually centered on the diverse ways Africans navigate the English language, specifically highlighting the linguistic commonalities between nations like Kenya and Nigeria. He suggested that his observations on dialect and fluency were framed as a point of shared African identity rather than a critique.
“I was misquoted. I hope there will be no consequences,” he told the crowd. He insisted that the recording misrepresented the facts of the discussion, noting that “someone decided to take it out of context.”
While reflecting on the continent’s communication styles, Ruto pointed out the high standard of English found in Kenya compared to the unique variations found elsewhere.
“I was captured speaking to my fellow citizens, but they misrepresented the facts,” he said. “I was talking about how we in Africa speak good English, all of us. And in some countries like Nigeria, if you do not speak excellent English like the one we speak in Kenya, you might need a translator to understand it.”
Ultimately, the president stood by his original message regarding African unity and communication, even as he brushed off the digital stir caused by the leak. Amid continued applause, he circled back to the idea that the public narrative missed his broader point about how “we in Africa speak good English all of us.”
Ruto also extended a warm gesture to the Nigerian leadership, specifically acknowledging his personal bond with President Bola Tinubu. Addressing Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake, Ruto injected a bit of humor into his greetings, nodding to his personal ties with the West African nation.
“Please pass my regards, Minister, to President Tinubu, my friend, and to Nigerians who are my in-laws, and do so in good English,” he remarked.
This exchange followed a lighthearted defense from Minister Alake, who officially responded to the recent buzz surrounding the president’s linguistic comparisons. Representing his home country, Alake reassured the Nairobi audience of Nigeria’s verbal prowess.
“I bring good tidings from the president and the people of the Republic of Nigeria. The people of Nigeria have mandated me to inform you and assure you that Nigerians speak good English,” the minister stated.
The controversy originally sparked last week during the Africa We Build Summit, where Ruto spoke on the global competitiveness of Kenya’s workforce and the strength of its national education system. During that address, he showcased Kenya’s language skills as a premier asset for its citizens on the world stage.
“Our education is good. Our English is good. We have one of the best English-speaking people in the world,” he noted.
However, it was his playful jab at Nigerian phonetics during that same speech that captured the internet’s attention. While comparing regional accents, he drew loud laughter from the summit participants by suggesting that Kenyan English holds a certain clarity that others might lack.
“If you listen to a Nigerian speak English, you will need a translator, even when they are speaking English,” he said at the time.
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