President William Ruto has announced a new push to promote multilingualism as a national priority, urging Kenyans to learn foreign languages such as German, French, Chinese, and Spanish to enhance their global competitiveness.
Speaking on Thursday during the opening of the Third National Executive Retreat in Kajiado, President Ruto revealed that the government is collaborating with educational institutions to expand foreign language training programs.
“We are working to ensure more Kenyans can speak multiple languages—German, Chinese, French, and Spanish.That is our next frontier,” Ruto declared.
He highlighted the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) as a pioneer in integrating foreign languages into its curriculum, a move he said will better prepare Kenyan professionals for international job markets.
While the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs does not directly offer language courses, it is coordinating with learning institutions to facilitate language programs.
The ministry plays a crucial role in Kenya’s foreign relations, where proficiency in global languages is increasingly essential.
The President’s remarks come as demand surges for Kenyan interpreters fluent in languages like French, Mandarin, and German, particularly at international conferences and events.
Skilled interpreters can earn up to KSh 30,000 per day, making language proficiency a highly profitable skill.
This trend is also reducing reliance on foreign interpreters, creating new job opportunities for Kenyan youth in the language services sector.
Beyond language policy, President Ruto emphasized his administration’s commitment to long-term national development over short-term political gains.
“I am not focused on the next election. I am focused on transforming our country. Failure is not an option,” he stated.
He pointed to the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) as evidence of progress but called for increased efforts to accelerate service delivery.
“We are here to reflect on where we came from, where we are, and agree on the future,” he told government officials. “There is still more to do.
“The retreat brought together top officials to assess government performance, set new targets, and align priorities for the coming year.
With language skills becoming a key economic enabler, the government’s push could open doors for Kenyans in global business, diplomacy, and remote work.
Observers will be watching how quickly these language programs roll out—and whether they translate into tangible job opportunities.
For now, the message is clear: Kenya is looking beyond English and Kiswahili, betting on multilingualism as a passport to the world.
