After his own daughter and that his friend tied the knot with Nigerians, President William Ruto has expressed mild concern about Kenyan men being “slow”.

Mr Ruto, whose daughter married a Nigerian in 2021, said at the wedding of his friend’s daughter, “My daughter is married to a Nigerian. This one (referring to his friend’s daughter) is now married to a Nigerian. Our guys around, I don’t know you are slow.” 

The Kenyan president made this statement in a recent video posted online from a wedding.

While the audience savoured the humorous remark, Mr Ruto said Kenya risked a brain drain as Nigerian men continue to marry off Kenyan girls.

“We need to balance this case. At this rate, we are going to have a brain drain in Kenya. I think there is something between Kenya and Nigeria,” Mr Ruto explained.

The Kenyan president described Nigerians as “complicated” and threatened to make life difficult for the groom in the video.

“Nigerians are very complicated people. That is why I proposed to come. I wanted to see this Nigerian who had ‘harassed’ my friend. But I’m told you have been well-behaved. I’ve asked whether you’ve done the needful (pre-wedding ceremonies).

“He (Mr Ruto’s friend) has given me a brief. Consider yourself lucky that I was not here. I would have given you a lot of trouble. Because it is done, I can’t reverse it,” Mr Ruto said.