With Kenya witnessing fresh wave of unrest across several cities over soaring energy prices and a worsening cost-of-living crisis, its President, William Ruto is apparently trying to distract the people’s strong resolve by criticising Nigeria’s economic conditions and English usage.
He spoke while pushing back against recent comments by President Bola Tinubu that Nigerians are better off than citizens of other African countries in terms of the standard of living crisis caused by the Iranian war.
He spoke during a visit to Bayelsa State, where he inaugurated key infrastructure projects and defended his administration’s economic policies despite rising fuel prices.
Under the new pricing regime in Kenya, petrol rose by 16.1 percent while diesel surged by 24.2 percent. This is based on a controversial fuel price review by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) on April 15.m which attributed the hikes to rising global import costs, which have jumped by as much as 68.7 percent.
Protests erupted in the country on Tuesday, with hundreds of young people flooding major streets and disrupting traffic. In Nairobi, protesters gathered at the Kenya National Archives, where the atmosphere was initially calm.
Demonstrators sang the national anthem and played football before police intervened, deploying water cannons and arresting at least 11 individuals in the central business district.
Although no deaths were recorded unlike the deadly unrest during the 2024 Finance Bill protests tension remains high. In cities such as Embu, traders shut their businesses early in anticipation of violence.
The protests gained momentum after opposition figures mobilised citizens online using the hashtag #RejectFuelPrices.
Tinubu had in his Bayelsa speech said the following: “It is very important that we are honest with our people. Yes, I hear you from various angles of the economy. The fuel price is biting hard, but look around, let us thank God together, that you are better off.
“Listen to them in Kenya and other African countries and what they are going through. We will not look back. We will continue to fine way to ameliorate the sufferings of the vulnerable.”
In a now-viral video response, President Ruto of Kenya dismissed the comparison, pointing to Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges, particularly its persistent power supply issues, and taking a swipe at its English usage.
“Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak the best English in the world. If you listen to a Nigerian speak English, you’ll need a translator. We’ve the best human capital anywhere in the world,” Ruto said, using humour to defend his country’s standing and appease his protesting countrymen.
