Controversy Deepens as William Ruto Responds To Reactions Over Nigerians Comment

Speaking at a mining conference in Nairobi on Tuesday, Ruto said the comments came from what he described as a private conversation that was later made public and, according to him, misrepresented.

He stressed that his remarks were not meant as an insult to Nigerians but were intended to highlight the strong command of English spoken across African countries. In a lighthearted reference, he also sent greetings to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian people, whom he referred to as his “in-laws.”

Ruto maintained that his comments were meant humorously and were focused on the quality and uniqueness of English spoken in different African countries, including Nigeria. He jokingly suggested that Nigerians speak such excellent English that one might even need a translator to fully appreciate it.

His clarification followed a viral video in which he appeared to compare Kenya’s education system with Nigeria’s and made remarks that sparked debate online. In the clip, he was quoted as making comments about understanding the way Nigerians speak English, prompting mixed reactions.

The controversy also came amid comparisons to recent comments made by Tinubu during a visit to Bayelsa State, where he referenced living conditions in some African countries, including Kenya. Although Ruto did not directly link his earlier remarks to Tinubu, some online reactions framed both comments as part of a broader exchange.

Seeking to calm tensions, Ruto downplayed the controversy and expressed hope the remarks would not lead to any diplomatic fallout.