Veteran Kenyan radio broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka has given fans a rare glimpse into his deep personal ties with the late Congolese music giant Madilu System, recounting how a last-minute call pulled him to Mombasa to officiate the singer’s wedding.
The clip, posted on Machoka’s TikTok page, was filmed outdoors on his farm while he fed cattle.
Overlaid with archival black-and-white photographs, he shared his story, giving netizens a glimpse of how things turned out.
Machoka’s rush between hospital and wedding
In the recording, Machoka explains that Madilu System had fallen in love with a Swiss woman and had chosen Mombasa as the quiet, celebratory backdrop for their wedding.
When Machoka received word that he was needed urgently to preside over the ceremony, he was in the middle of visiting another musician in crisis.
“I had a musician friend called Wilson Peter Kinyuka of Simba Oneka who was very ill at Kenyatta Hospital,” Machoka said, explaining that he stopped there before flying to the coast.
Doctors assured him Kinyuka was not yet in a position to be moved, and Machoka proceeded to Mombasa, where he officiated the South Coast ceremony alongside the late Abdalla Shebe and a guest named Jaffa Ilale, who Madilu later immortalised in his song Djafar.
The joy of the occasion was short-lived. Upon returning to Nairobi, Machoka discovered that Wilson Peter Kinyuka had already passed away.
He believes the doctors had shielded him from the truth about how grave the situation truly was.
“It was kind of sad because that is about the time we lost Wilson Peter Kinyuka, but the wedding was very exciting,” he reflected.
He estimated the events took place around 1995.
Watch Machoka recount the story on his TikTok:
@fredomachoka Madilu’s wedding that happened in Mombasa coincided with the death of Wilson Peter Kinyonga. Tickets to #MachokaAt50 available on https://viutickets.viusasa.com/events/music/fred -obachi-machoka-at50 (link in Bio) or dial *487*27# #MachokaAt50 ♬ original sound – fredomachoka
Fans react to the rare revelation
The story resonated strongly with followers, many of whom were hearing these details for the first time:
@Edward Kabasa said:
“Thank you, Uncle, for sharing this with the world. Also thank you for confirming that indeed Madilu wedded in Mombasa.”
@PHANICE said:
“But people mocked him for marrying an older lady, and he responded with a song vice versa.”
@eng_ruttokevin said:
“Hence the song Djafar by Madilu.”
@GMan said:
“How did you preside over the wedding? Are you an authorised government official to do that?”
@muki76 said:
“Sauti haijai change tangu ajoin media.”
@njumus said:
“Uncle, you are in excellent and trim health; what’s your secret? “
@brig_isaac_maliyamungu said:
“How old are you, sir?”
