US television host Rob Finnerty has apologised to Kenyans following a public backlash over his comparison of Nairobi to New York City during a televised debate on immigration, with critics demanding that he repeat the apology live on air.
Finnerty, a presenter on American broadcaster Newsmax, issued the apology on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, after his remarks sparked criticism from Kenyans who accused him of unfairly portraying the Kenyan capital as a symbol of urban disorder.
In a statement posted on X, Finnerty acknowledged that his comments had caused offence and expressed regret over the comparison.
โI want to offer an apology to the people of Nairobi, Kenya. The passion you have for your city and homeland is amazing,โ he wrote.
โWe all make mistakes. I misspoke, and I am sorry to anyone I have offended,โ he added.
What Finnerty Said About Nairobi
The controversy arose from a Newsmax segment discussing immigration, street conditions and delivery workers in New York City.
During the broadcast, Finnerty argued that immigration had changed the character of some American cities, linking the developments he described to the arrival of migrants from Africa, the Middle East and South America.
โThey move to blue sanctuary cities, and the cities then start to look more like Nairobi than New York City,โ Finnerty said.
He also criticised the media’s coverage of immigration and compared developments in the United States with those in the United Kingdom and France.
However, the comparison drew criticism from Kenyans, many of whom questioned why Nairobi had been singled out in a debate about American immigration and urban conditions.
Critics also pointed out that people featured in the segment identified themselves as coming from countries including Guatemala, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mexico and Guinea.
None of the individuals identified themselves as Kenyan in the reported segment, prompting questions from social media users about the basis for invoking Nairobi in the discussion.
Kenyans Demand On-Air Apology
The remarks prompted a wave of reactions on social media, with some Kenyans directing their criticism at Finnerty and Newsmax while demanding an apology.
Some users argued that New York City’s challenges should be discussed on their own merits rather than using an African capital as a negative point of comparison.
Others called for Finnerty to issue an apology during a live television broadcast, maintaining that a social media statement was not enough to address remarks made before a television audience.
The backlash also renewed debate about how African cities are portrayed in international media, particularly when discussions about migration, sanitation and urban development rely on comparisons that critics consider dismissive or stereotypical.
Nairobi is a major commercial and diplomatic hub in East Africa, although, like other large cities, it faces urban development and infrastructure challenges. Critics of Finnerty’s remarks argued that such challenges should not define the city or its residents.
Apology Follows Mounting Criticism
Finnerty’s statement acknowledged that he had misspoken and apologised to those offended by his remarks.
His response came after criticism spread across social media, with Kenyans questioning the choice of Nairobi as a reference point in a discussion centred on conditions in American cities.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on the language used by international broadcasters when discussing immigration and the portrayal of African cities to global audiences.
Although Finnerty has issued a public apology, some Kenyans continue to call for him to address the controversy on television.
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