NAIROBI, Kenya – American journalist Rob Finnerty has apologised to Kenyans during a live television broadcast, describing his comparison of Nairobi to New York City as a mistake and praising the Kenyan capital as a thriving centre for commerce, technology, education and tourism.
The Newsmax presenter issued the on-air apology on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, after his earlier remarks triggered widespread criticism from Kenyans, who demanded that he address the controversy on the same platform where he made the comparison.
During his live address, the journalist acknowledged that his remarks had offended people in Kenya and beyond, accepting responsibility for the comparison.
Finnerty Calls Nairobi Comparison A Mistake
The controversy began during a Newsmax segment aired on October 9, when Finnerty discussed immigration, street conditions and delivery workers in New York City.
He argued that immigration from developing countries under former US President Joe Biden had changed the character of some American cities.
“They move to blue sanctuary cities, and the cities then start to look more like Nairobi than New York City,” Finnerty said during the broadcast.
The remarks drew criticism from Kenyans, who questioned why Nairobi had been used as a negative comparison in a discussion about immigration in the United States.
The segment featured interviews with people who identified themselves as coming from Guatemala, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mexico and Guinea. None of those featured in the supplied clip identified themselves as being from Kenya or Nairobi, a point that became central to the backlash.
Critics argued that the comparison unfairly portrayed Nairobi and reinforced negative stereotypes about African cities.
Journalist Admits Nairobi Is Thriving
Addressing the controversy live, Finnerty admitted that comparing New York City to Nairobi had been inappropriate.
“While discussing my concerns about New York City turning into a third-world city under the new mayor, I compared what New York City has become to the city of Nairobi, which was just wrong,” he said.
He then acknowledged the offence caused by his remarks and expressed regret to Kenyans and others who felt insulted.
“Nairobi, which is in Kenya, is a largely Christian nation. I know my comments offended a lot of really good people who live there and all over the world, and for that I am truly sorry,” Finnerty said.
The journalist went further, praising Nairobi’s development and describing the city as a growing hub for several sectors.
“It was a stupid comparison to make, frankly, because unlike so many other cities all over the world, Nairobi is actually thriving. It’s become a centre for commerce, tech, education, tourism, and from everything that I hear, it is a wonderful place, but that does not change what happened,” he said.
Finnerty acknowledged that his position as a journalist and broadcaster required him to communicate thoughtfully and respectfully, admitting that he had failed in that responsibility.
“I know I’ve got the responsibility as a broadcaster, as a journalist, to speak thoughtfully and respectfully. And I failed here, and I will admit that,” he said.
He expressed hope that Kenyans would accept his apology, adding that no community deserved to be unfairly characterised or insulted.
“I would be upset too, and I’m sorry. And even though you might not like me, I truly do hope that you forgive me,” he added.
Kenyans Had Demanded An On-Air Apology
Before the live apology, Finnerty had issued a written statement acknowledging his mistake and expressing regret over the comments.
“I want to offer an apology to the people of Nairobi, Kenya. The passion you have for your city and homeland is amazing… We all make mistakes. I misspoke, and I am sorry to anyone I have offended,” he wrote on X.
However, some Kenyans insisted that an apology on social media was insufficient, arguing that he needed to return to television to address the remarks publicly.
Users flooded Finnerty’s and Newsmax’s social media pages with demands for an on-air apology and a retraction of the comparison. Others shared images of Nairobi’s skyline and modern infrastructure in response to his comments.
The subsequent live apology directly addressed those demands, with Finnerty acknowledging that his choice of Nairobi as a comparison was wrong.
Debate Over Portrayal Of African Cities
The incident has renewed debate about how international media outlets portray African cities, particularly when they are used as shorthand for urban decline or disorder.
Critics of Finnerty’s remarks argued that discussions about immigration and urban challenges in the United States should not rely on dismissive comparisons with African capitals.
Nairobi is a major centre for business, technology, education and tourism in East Africa, and Finnerty’s comments about the city’s growth formed a central part of his apology.
His televised response marked a further development in the controversy, which began with the original broadcast, escalated through social media criticism and culminated in his public admission that the comparison was misguided.
