Nigeria President Tinubu to Visit Kenya After War of Words with Ruto Over English Remarks

Bola Tinubu is expected to visit Kenya in the coming days as part of his two-week international tour that will also take him to France and Rwanda.

His visit comes shortly after a public online exchange between him and William Ruto that attracted a lot of attention across Africa and sparked debates on social media.

According to his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu will leave Abuja and first travel to France before heading to Nairobi. In Nairobi, he is expected to attend the Africa-France Summit starting on May 11.

The summit will be co-hosted by Emmanuel Macron and President Ruto. It will bring together African leaders and French officials to discuss key issues affecting the continent.

Some of the main topics to be discussed include energy transition, green industrial growth, digital transformation, and changes in global financial systems. Leaders will also talk about climate change, infrastructure development, youth empowerment, technology, and peace across Africa.

During his stay in Nairobi, Tinubu is expected to promote Nigeria’s economic reforms and attract investors. He will also meet business leaders from Africa and other parts of the world.

After finishing his visit in Kenya on May 12, Tinubu will travel to Kigali to attend the Africa CEO Forum scheduled for May 14–15. The forum will bring together over 2,000 business leaders and policymakers to discuss ways of improving trade and industrial growth within Africa.

His visit comes after recent comments by both leaders caused reactions online. Tinubu had earlier said Nigerians were “better off than Kenyans” during a discussion about fuel prices, which did not go well with many Kenyans online.

On the other hand, President Ruto also faced criticism after he said Nigerian-accented English can be difficult to understand while speaking in Italy. His remarks were criticised by many Nigerians.

The situation led to online debates between Kenyans and Nigerians, with many discussing economic issues, language, and national pride.

However, President Ruto later clarified his comments during an event in Nairobi, saying he was misunderstood and that his remarks were only meant as a light comparison. He also emphasized the strong relationship between Kenya and Nigeria and even sent greetings to President Tinubu to cool down the tension.