Veteran Kenyan broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka’s 50-year broadcasting anniversary took an unexpected political turn on Saturday after he ordered security personnel to escort his niece, former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba, from the stage during celebrations at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
The incident occurred during the Machoka@50 Grand Concert on October 10, an event organised to mark five decades of Machoka’s career in broadcasting. Footage circulating online captured the broadcaster asking security to remove Orwoba after she engaged in chants associated with the “Wantam” political slogan.
“Please, Security, toa huyu msichana hapa. You cannot screw up my job,” Machoka is heard saying in the recording, before warning Orwoba that she would have to respect his instructions when accompanying him.
The exchange attracted attention from sections of the audience, with some attendees reportedly describing the confrontation as a family disagreement. However, the available footage does not establish the full circumstances surrounding the exchange or provide a complete account of the two relatives’ perspectives.
Political message interrupts anniversary celebrations
The “Wantam” slogan has become associated with political opposition to President William Ruto serving a second term in the 2027 General Election. Its appearance at the anniversary concert brought an explicitly political message into an event primarily intended to celebrate Machoka’s contribution to Kenyan broadcasting and entertainment.
The incident illustrates how public entertainment gatherings increasingly provide platforms for political expression, particularly as political actors position themselves ahead of the next general election.
However, the available reporting does not establish whether Orwoba intended to turn the occasion into a political rally or whether the exchange was preceded by discussions with the event organisers. Neither should the confrontation, on its own, be treated as evidence of a broader political arrangement between the individuals involved.
Orwoba’s political trajectory
Orwoba served as a nominated senator under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) after the 2022 General Election. She became publicly prominent through advocacy on menstrual health, period poverty and the stigma surrounding menstruation.
Her relationship with the ruling party subsequently deteriorated, culminating in her expulsion and the dispute over her Senate position. Reports published in 2025 detailed the party’s action against her, while subsequent legal proceedings kept her political status in the public eye.
Since her fallout with UDA, Orwoba has been associated with criticism of the government and political figures outside the ruling party’s establishment. Her participation in the “Wantam” chants at Machoka’s celebration therefore occurred against an already contested political background.
The precise political implications of the incident, however, remain uncertain. A public appearance or political chant does not, by itself, establish an individual’s formal membership in a movement or political party.
A milestone for a broadcasting veteran
The confrontation also diverted attention from the occasion’s central purpose: recognising Machoka’s five decades in the media industry.
Machoka, widely known for his association with the Roga Roga programme, has built a public profile through broadcasting and the popularisation of African rhumba music. His anniversary concert featured prominent performers, including Congolese musicians Koffi Olomide and Mbilia Bel, alongside Cameroonian musician Sam Fan Thomas and Kenyan acts.
The event attracted personalities from politics, entertainment and organised labour, reflecting Machoka’s connections across different sections of public life.
While the on-stage exchange has since become a subject of public discussion, the available evidence offers limited grounds for drawing conclusions about the family relationship beyond the confrontation itself.
As Kenya moves towards the 2027 election cycle, the episode provides another example of the intersection between political messaging, public personalities and entertainment. Whether it has consequences beyond the concert remains to be seen.