Mwai Kibaki’s Grandson Sean Andrew Admits Avoiding To Learn Kiswahili

Sean Andrew, the grandson of Kenya’s third President, the late Mwai Kibaki, has sparked online debate after revealing during a candid interview that he deliberately avoided learning Kiswahili and possesses only a basic understanding of his native Kikuyu language.

Speaking during a sit-down interview with radio presenter Alex Mwakideu, Sean admitted that he was raised in an predominantly English-speaking environment and actively shied away from Kiswahili during his school years.

“I didn’t do Swahili really. I avoided it like the plague because I was never really good at it. I grew up speaking English, and everyone around me did too. I get that it’s a bit embarrassing. I mean, I know enough to survive, just like I do with Kikuyu,” Sean shared.

Addressing his ancestral Kikuyu language, Sean explained that while he understands more than he can converse, his vocabulary is largely limited to basic greetings. He also noted a linguistic observation regarding his mother tongue, adding, “Even with Kikuyu, I find it funny that there are no direct words for things like ‘sorry.'”

During the session, Mwakideu reassured Sean that not speaking fluent Kiswahili was acceptable and “not embarrassing.” However, the presenter’s permissive stance drew mixed reactions from social media users, with several viewers arguing that public figures and citizens alike should take pride in national and indigenous languages.