‘We Speak Some of Best English’- Ruto Challenges Nigeria, Touts Kenya’s Fluency
Kenya President William Ruto has ignited a wave of lighthearted banter across the continent, taking a pointed, humorous dig at the way English is spoken in Nigeria.
The remarks, which quickly circulated online, have added an unexpected and playful layer to the recent political discourse between the two African powerhouses.
The comments surfaced during a high-profile engagement where President Ruto took a moment to celebrate the quality of education and linguistic standards within his country.
Addressing a room that erupted with laughter, he highlighted the perceived linguistic gap between the two nations.
“Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world. That is true. If you listen to a Nigerian speak, you need a translator…“
Context of the Cross-Border Banter
The playful critique follows closely on the heels of remarks made by Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu.
During a visit to Bayelsa State, President Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain patient amidst local economic difficulties, suggesting they should take solace in being better off than citizens in Kenya.
By using Kenya’s recent domestic economic challenges, including public protests over the rising cost of living, as a comparative benchmark for Nigerian resilience, the President inadvertently set the stage for this latest exchange.
It is not the first time President Ruto has used humor to bridge the diplomatic distance between the two countries.
In 2025, he famously joked that Kenyan women were increasingly marrying Nigerian men, lightheartedly warning of a “brain drain” caused by these cross-border romances, even noting his own daughter is married to a Nigerian.
Analyzing Proficiency Rankings
Beyond the surface-level humour, the exchange has triggered a broader examination of development and literacy metrics across Africa. When looking at the data, the claim regarding English proficiency brings the EF English Proficiency Index 2025 into the spotlight.
According to this comprehensive report, which analyzed data from over 2.2 million test takers, Kenya currently holds the third-best ranking for English proficiency on the continent. Nigeria sits in the fifth position, following South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
