Newsmax Presenter Apologises After Saying American Cities Are Starting to Look Like Nairobi, Not New York

Newsmax presenter Rob Finnerty has apologised to Kenyans during a live broadcast after comparing Nairobi unfavourably with New York during a discussion on immigration in the United States.

Finnerty made the original remarks on 9 October while discussing concerns about immigration and its impact on American cities. He suggested that some urban areas in the United States were beginning to resemble Nairobi rather than New York, prompting criticism from Kenyans who viewed the comparison as inaccurate and dismissive.

The comments prompted a wave of responses on social media, where Kenyans shared photographs and videos of Nairobi’s skyline, modern infrastructure, commercial districts and technology sector. Many used the posts to challenge what they considered outdated perceptions of the Kenyan capital.

 

The debate extended beyond the comparison itself, with some Kenyans questioning how African cities are portrayed in international media. Nairobi is a major commercial, financial and diplomatic centre in East Africa, and its development has contributed to its growing regional importance.

Finnerty initially responded to the criticism in a post on X, expressing regret for the offence caused and acknowledging the pride Nairobi residents have in their city and country. However, some critics said the online statement was insufficient and called for him to address the matter on air.

Kenyan media personality Lynn Ngugi was among those who questioned the initial response. She suggested that the apology appeared to have been prompted by public pressure, reflecting concerns among critics about whether the presenter had fully recognised the impact of his remarks.

Other Kenyans called on Newsmax to take further action, including removing the original segment and issuing a formal correction. Finnerty subsequently addressed the controversy during a live broadcast, acknowledging that his comments had caused offence in Kenya and elsewhere.

In his on-air apology, the presenter admitted that the comparison was misguided 

and did not accurately reflect Nairobi. He also acknowledged that he had fallen short of the standards expected of a journalist and broadcaster, adding that cities and their communities should not be characterised unfairly.