The tension between former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba and her uncle, veteran broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka, spilt into the public eye over the weekend after a dramatic confrontation at a high-profile Nairobi concert.
The trouble started on Saturday, 10 October, at the Machoka@50 Grand Concert held at Ulinzi Sports Complex, a star-studded event celebrating 50 years of Machoka’s broadcasting career.
The evening featured heavyweight acts including Koffi Olomide, Mbilia Bel, Sam Fan Thomas, Them Mushrooms and Les Wanyika.
What happened on stage?
During a segment where Machoka was introducing family members, Orwoba, who is his sister’s daughter, was handed the microphone. Rather than offer a warm tribute, she seized the moment to chant “WANTAM” and flash the hand signal associated with the opposition push for President William Ruto to serve only one term.
Machoka did not take it lightly. In videos that quickly spread online, the 73-year-old broadcaster can be heard addressing security directly: “Please, Security, toa huyu msichana hapa. You can not screw up my job. Next time you are with your uncle, utajua hapa huna neno, utatii.”
He made clear he would not allow his professional milestone to be turned into a political platform.
Orwoba hits back online
The following morning, Orwoba showed no signs of remorse. She posted on Facebook with a playful dig at her uncle:
“Good morning! Lazima nikumbushe Uncle mambo ni WANTAM!”
The post drew significant attention quickly, amassing over 1,300 reactions and 489 comments within just 23 minutes of being published. Many Kenyans in the comments described the exchange as a family dispute playing out very publicly.
Orwoba has been a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza government since being expelled from UDA in 2025, following her alignment with former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. Her decision to use her uncle’s milestone event as a political moment has divided opinion, with some viewing it as disrespectful and others seeing it as consistent with her outspoken stance.
Machoka had not publicly responded to her Sunday morning post at the time of writing.
