President William Ruto Clarifies Controversial English Accent Remarks, Reaching Out To Nigerian "In-Laws" To Ease Diplomatic Tensions

President William Ruto clarifies his "misrepresented" comments on Nigerian English accents, calling Nigerians his "in-laws" and praising African linguistic richness.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 5:16 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

Diplomatic Outreach Following Social Media Backlash

President William Ruto has officially sought to de-escalate tensions with Nigeria following a series of comments regarding English proficiency that drew widespread condemnation across Africa. The controversy began after the President, during a meeting with Kenyans in Italy, suggested that while Kenyans speak "the best English," listening to Nigerians might require a "translator." The remarks were quickly labeled as dismissive by critics, who argued that such comparisons reinforce colonial-era stereotypes linking specific accents to intelligence or national progress.

"My In-Laws": Ruto Employs Family Ties To Mover Closer To Nigeria

During the Mining Investment Conference and Expo in Nairobi on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Ruto addressed the issue directly, referring to Nigerians as his "in-laws"—a reference to his daughter’s marriage to a Nigerian citizen. He requested a visiting minister to convey his warm regards to President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the earlier remarks were misrepresented. Ruto explained that the comments originated in what he believed was a private conversation with Kenyan citizens abroad that was later made public without his consent.

Clarifying The "Excellent English" Of West Africa

Defending his intent, Ruto maintained that his goal was to highlight the high level of English proficiency across the continent rather than to demean any specific nation. He argued that the variation in accents between East and West Africa is a reflection of linguistic richness. "In some countries like Nigeria, if you don't speak excellent English, like the one we speak in Kenya, you may need a translator... to understand the excellent English of Nigeria," the President stated, drawing laughter from the audience as he attempted to reframe the comparison as a compliment to Nigeria's distinct linguistic style.