Africa-Press – Kenya. President William Ruto has said his recent remarks on English usage were taken out of context after a private conversation was made public and widely circulated online.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Mining Summit in Nairobi, Ruto said he was addressing fellow citizens in what he believed was a private setting when the comments were recorded and shared.
“I was misquoted. I hope there will be no consequences,” he said, drawing laughter and cheers from those present.
The President also sent greetings to Nigerian leadership, referencing his relationship with President Bola Tinubu.
“Please pass my regards, Minister, to President Tinubu, my friend, and to Nigerians who are my in-laws, and do so in good English,” he said.
Ruto said the remarks that went viral were misrepresented in their circulation.
“I was captured speaking to my fellow citizens, but they misrepresented the facts,” he said.
He added that his broader point was about the shared use of English across African countries, including Kenya and Nigeria.
“I was talking about how we in Africa speak good English all of us. And in some countries like Nigeria, if you do not speak excellent English like the one we speak in Kenya, you might need a translator to understand it,” he said.
Ruto reiterated that the comments had been taken out of context.
“Someone decided to take it out of context,” he added.
The President made the remarks amid laughter and applause from the audience.
Earlier, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake, also responded to Ruto’s comments on English usage.
“I bring good tidings from the President and the people of the Republic of Nigeria. The people of Nigeria have mandated me to inform you and assure you that Nigerians speak good English,” he said.
Last week, Ruto made the original remarks while addressing participants at the Africa We Build Summit, where he was speaking about Kenya’s education system and the competitiveness of its human capital.
Highlighting what he described as Kenya’s strengths in education and language proficiency, the President said: “Our education is good. Our English is good. We have one of the best English-speaking people in the world.”
He then made a comparison involving Nigeria, adding: “If you listen to a Nigerian speak English, you will need a translator, even when they are speaking English,” a remark that drew laughter from participants.
Ruto later anchored his comments within a broader argument on workforce development, noting that Kenya’s human capital ranks among the strongest globally but requires further sharpening through training and skills development.
