American TV presenter Rob Finnerty has apologised to Kenyans after comparing New York City to Nairobi during a live broadcast.
Finnerty hosts a programme on Newsmax. However, he sparked outrage after claiming that immigration was making New York resemble Nairobi.
As a result, his remarks attracted criticism from Kenyans on social media. The backlash eventually prompted him to issue a public apology.
Finnerty Compares New York to Nairobi
The controversy began during a live primetime discussion about immigration.
During the broadcast, Finnerty blamed former US President Joe Biden for allowing millions of immigrants into the United States. He specifically mentioned people from Africa, the Middle East and South America.
“Joe Biden let millions of people from third-world countries Africa, the Middle East, South America, we have no idea where these people are from,” Finnerty said.
He then claimed that immigration was changing the appearance of some American cities.
“They move to Blue sanctuary cities, and the cities then start to look like Nairobi, than New York City,” he added.
Furthermore, Finnerty compared the situation in the US to immigration challenges in the United Kingdom and France.
“What is happening in the UK and France is happening here already,” he said.
Newsmax Host Issues Public Apology
Following the backlash, many Kenyans criticised Finnerty’s comparison of Nairobi to New York.
In response, the presenter addressed the controversy on his X account. He also apologised directly to the people of Nairobi.
Finnerty described his remarks as a mistake. Additionally, he praised Kenyans for their strong attachment to their city and country.
“I want to offer an apology to the people of Nairobi, Kenya. The passion you have your city and homeland is amazing… We all make mistakes. I misspoke, and I am sorry to anyone I have offended,” Finnerty wrote.
Kenyans Demand On-Air Apology
Despite the statement, some Kenyans remain dissatisfied with Finnerty’s apology.
For instance, some have demanded that he apologise on live television. They argue that he should address the controversy on the same platform where he made the remarks.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked debate about how foreign media figures describe Nairobi. It has also highlighted the strong reactions such comments can generate among Kenyans.
