President William Ruto of Kenya has moved to ease diplomatic tension with Nigeria, following the backlash over comments he made about Nigerian accents, saying his remarks were misinterpreted.
Speaking on Tuesday at a conference in Nairobi, Ruto described Nigerians as “my in-laws” and extended his goodwill to President Bola Tinubu and the Nigerian people, stressing that he meant no offence.
The Kenyan leader came under criticism after a recent engagement with Kenyans in Italy, where he was quoted as saying Nigerians could be difficult to understand when speaking English, a comment that drew widespread reactions across Africa.
Clarifying his position, Ruto explained that the remarks were taken out of context from what he described as a private conversation that later became public.
“Please pass my regards to President Tinubu, my friend, and to the great people of Nigeria, who are my in-laws,” he said, adding that the statement had been misrepresented.
Ruto maintained that he intended to highlight the richness and diversity of English spoken across African countries, rather than demean any nation.
He noted that countries like Nigeria have developed strong and distinct forms of the language shaped by their cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
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The controversy had sparked debate online, with critics arguing that such comments reinforce outdated colonial-era ideas that equate English proficiency with intelligence or national advancement.
Nigeria and Kenya, both former British colonies, use English as an official language, though each has evolved unique accents and expressions influenced by indigenous languages.
Ruto’s clarification appears aimed at calming tensions and reinforcing diplomatic ties between the two African nations, amid calls for greater unity and mutual respect across the continent.
