A dramatic moment was witnessed in Tanzania’s statehouse in Dar es Salaam during a joint press briefing between Presidents William Ruto and Samia Suluhu.
Samia addressed the press before she welcomed Ruto on the stage whereby he admitted to be struggling with Kiswahili and requested Suluhu to allow him make his speech in the queens’ language.
“Her Excellency the president, you will allow me, I have struggled so much with Swahili in the morning, for me to be understood better, you will allow me to speak English, ” the head of state said.
However, when he began giving his speech in English, a statehouse translator began translating to Swahili without warning forcing Ruto to awkwardly pause his speech.
“I don’t think it is necessary to translate. Is there anybody who does not understand English here? ” Ruto asked after the translator was done translating his first statement.
A person could however be heard explaining to him that for the sake of the media purposes it was necessary to have a translator.
Ruto however said that he will repeat whatever he says later in Swahili and asked the translator not to go on with the ‘job.’
“I will repeat later, just let it be. You will confuse me more. I am sorry,” he said before he proceeded with his speech.
Ruto arrived in Tanzania for a two day visit on Sunday night . The visit to the country is his first since assuming office on September 13.
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