Why Kenya’s 68.9% Debt-to-GDP Ratio and the English Fluency Debate Miss Africa’s True Priorities

President William Ruto’s recent claim that Kenyans speak better English than Nigerians risks valorizing colonial languages over our own heritage and ideals. Language proficiency alone does not drive development. Non-Anglophone powerhouses like China and Germany—and African economies such as Egypt, Algeria, and Morocco—thrive through productivity, strong institutions, innovation, and human capital. Nigerians have proven their expertise across medicine, engineering, law, academia, and the arts. Our diaspora succeeds on competence, not accent. Africa should shift its focus to substantive issues: managing Kenya’s 68.9% debt-to-GDP ratio, reducing poverty, deepening AfCFTA trade, strengthening climate resilience, and investing in human capital. Superficial debates over accent only distract from these urgent challenges.

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