A moment of diplomatic banter between Kenya’s President, William Ruto, and Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, drew laughter and applause at a major mining conference in Nairobi, following an earlier viral remark about Nigerians’ command of English.
The exchange comes days after a video circulated on social media in which President Ruto appeared to suggest that Nigerians do not speak English well. While many Nigerians interpreted the comment as a light-hearted jab, it nonetheless sparked widespread reactions online.
At the ongoing Kenyan Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition in Nairobi, Alake responded during his opening address, with President Ruto in attendance.
“I want to assure Mr President and the good people of Kenya that Nigerians speak impeccable English,” Alake said, prompting loud laughter across the conference hall.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Ali Joho, added to the humour, noting that “Nigerians speak such good English” that one had successfully used it to win the hand of President Ruto’s daughter in marriage.
The remark referenced the marriage between President Ruto’s daughter, June Ruto, and Nigerian academic, Alexander Ezenagu, a point that further amused attendees.
Not to be outdone, President Ruto took to the stage shortly afterwards, continuing the playful exchange and keeping the audience entertained in what many described as a rare moment of levity at a high-level investment gathering.
The friendly back-and-forth, widely seen as a “diplomatic roast”, underscored the cordial relations between both countries, even as it highlighted the role of humour in easing international discourse.
Observers noted that beyond the laughter, the exchange reflected the growing cultural and interpersonal ties between Kenya and Nigeria, with participants describing the moment as a celebration of shared African identity rather than division.
