Kenya’s President William Ruto Dragged For Mocking Nigerians’ Spoken English

Kenyan President William Ruto has come under heavy criticism after mocking how Nigerians speak English.

While speaking to Kenyans living in Italy on Monday, William Ruto praised Kenya’s education system, saying it produces people with strong English skills.

He went further to claim that Nigerians can be hard to understand, even when speaking English, joking that they might need a translator.

“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 even when they are speaking English,” Ruto said, sparking laughter from the audience.

“We have some of the best human capital anywhere in the world. We just need to sharpen it with more training.” 

He also pointed out that Kenya has a highly capable workforce, adding that with better training, the country could achieve even more.

Ruto’s comment triggered reaction on social media with Many users accusing him of showing an inferiority complex shaped by colonial influence.

Others, particularly Nigerians and Africans from different countries, criticised the comment as disrespectful and unnecessary toward another African nation.

Watch the video below:

“Our education and English are good. If you listen to a Nigerian speak English, you’ll need a translator.”

— Kenya’s President, William Ruto fires back at President, Tinubu after he spoke about Kenya’s economy. pic.twitter.com/b3NGXJVKDO

— Nigeria Stories (@NigeriaStories) April 23, 2026

Ruto is mocking the English of the Country with a Nobel Prize for literature winner.The Nation of Achebe and Chimamanda.

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) April 23, 2026

When President Ruto said Kenyans Speaks better English than Nigerians,this Russian guy must be just laughing at him. pic.twitter.com/7Eu21hnF0E

— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) April 23, 2026

This is Kenyan President William Ruto boasting that Kenyans speak better English than Nigerians 🤣🤣🤣
He is confusing accent with diction.

When African presidents boast that their citizens speak “better English” than others, they are not demonstrating a strong education system,… pic.twitter.com/WomklKsAbH

— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) April 23, 2026

The controversy come after President Bola Tinubu claimed that Nigeria’s economic situation is in a better position compared to Kenya and some other African countries.