NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto is facing online backlash after remarks suggesting that Nigerian-accented English can be difficult to understand, comments that have ignited debate on language, identity, and regional relations.
Speaking to Kenyans living in Italy, Ruto praised Kenya’s education system and English proficiency, saying: “If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don’t know what they are saying—you need a translator,” a statement that drew laughter from the audience.
The remarks quickly triggered criticism across social media, with users from Nigeria and across the continent accusing the president of belittling a fellow African nation.
Among those who weighed in was Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who wrote: “English is a colonial language, not a measure of intelligence, capability, or national progress.”
Critics pointed out that both Kenya and Nigeria, as former British colonies, use English as an official language but have developed distinct accents shaped by local linguistic influences.
Nigeria, with over 500 languages, has a diverse phonetic landscape, while Kenya’s mix of Bantu, Nilotic, and Cushitic languages shapes its own spoken English.
Former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani also criticised the remarks, referencing Nigeria’s literary heritage.
“Ruto is mocking the English of the country with a Nobel Prize for literature winner… the nation of Achebe and Chimamanda,” he said, alluding to writers such as Wole Soyinka, Chinua Achebe, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
The comments have also sparked a broader conversation about colonial legacy and linguistic identity, with some users arguing that privileging certain accents reflects lingering colonial hierarchies.
Others, however, defended the president, suggesting the remarks were made in a light-hearted context and have been taken out of proportion.
The controversy comes amid a pattern of online exchanges between Kenyans and Nigerians, often driven by comparisons in economics, culture, and politics.
These interactions, frequently unfolding on platforms such as X, range from humorous banter to sharp criticism.
Earlier this month, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu also faced backlash from Kenyan users after comments suggesting Nigerians were economically better off than citizens in other African countries.
While it remains unclear whether President Ruto’s remarks were linked to those earlier comments, the latest episode underscores the sensitivity of cross-national discourse in the digital age.
