The leader of the Conservative Party, who was born in the UK but spent much of her childhood in Nigeria, has consistently expressed her experiences of fear and insecurity in a nation beset by corruption.
On Monday, Nigerian Vice-President Kashim Shettima suggested that Badenoch might consider "removing the Kemi from her name" if she felt no pride in her "nation of origin."
In response to Shettima's remarks, Badenoch's spokesperson stated that she "stands by her words" and "is not a public relations representative for Nigeria."
"She is the leader of the opposition and takes great pride in her role in this country," he informed reporters. "She speaks the truth candidly and will not soften her language."
During a speech on migration in Abuja, Shettima expressed that his government remains "proud" of Badenoch "despite her attempts to denigrate her homeland."
He received applause when he remarked: "She is entitled to her own views; she even has the right to remove the Kemi from her name, but that does not diminish the fact that Nigeria is the greatest black nation on earth."
He contrasted Badenoch's stance with that of her predecessor, Rishi Sunak, describing him as "a brilliant young man" who "never spoke ill of his ancestral nation."
It remains unclear which specific comments Shettima was addressing, although Badenoch has often referenced her Nigerian upbringing in various speeches and interviews.
Born Olukemi Adegoke in Wimbledon in 1980, she spent her formative years in Lagos, Nigeria, and the United States, where her mother worked as a physiology professor.
She returned to the UK at 16 to live with a family friend due to the deteriorating political and economic conditions in Nigeria, in order to pursue her A-level studies.
After marrying Scottish banker Hamish Badenoch, she adopted her husband's surname.
At this year's Conservative Party conference, Badenoch drew a comparison between the liberties she enjoys in the UK and her upbringing in Lagos, where she noted that "fear was everywhere."
She painted a stark picture of the city as chaotic, recounting instances of hearing "neighbours scream as they are being burgled and beaten - and wondering if your home will be next."
During a recent visit to the US, she characterized her hometown as "a place where almost everything seemed broken."
These experiences have significantly influenced her conservative beliefs and positioned her firmly against socialism, she stated.