Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba has broken her silence after her uncle, veteran broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka, had security remove her from the stage at his media anniversary celebration.
The incident unfolded at the “Machoka at 50” event held at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi. Machoka was in the middle of introducing family members on stage when Orwoba was handed the microphone.
Things turned tense after she flashed a hand signal and led the crowd in chanting “WANTAM”, a slogan associated with calls for President William Ruto to serve only one term.
Machoka, who had reportedly insisted the occasion should not be used as a political platform, quickly intervened and ordered security to be removed from the stage.
What did Orwoba say about her incident with her uncle?
Appearing on Radio Jambo after the event, Orwoba was unapologetic. She said she acted based on what she felt the room was demanding, noting that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was also present at the event.
“I read the room, and that is why I raised my finger. The room was calling for Sifuna, who was there,” she said.
She also pushed back against the idea that she behaved badly, pointing to what she sees as a double standard in how men and women are judged for similar assertiveness.
“When a man is firm in his decisions, he is considered very inspiring, but when a woman stands up for what she believes in, she is told that she is dramatic,” Orwoba said.
On whether she felt humiliated by Machoka’s actions, Orwoba was measured. She acknowledged that she could not say for certain whether his intention was to embarrass her, but added that she knows the kind of person he is.
“If his intention was to humiliate me, which I don’t know because my uncle is my uncle, he is just that way. I didn’t even take it as a big thing. That is who he is,” she said.
She also declined to apologise, suggesting that Machoka may have been under considerable pressure on the day of the event and that she simply happened to be closest when his frustration boiled over.
“Why would I apologise? My presence offended him. You have to ask yourself what angered him that much. He was under stress, there were a lot of things going on, and he wasn’t supposed to be hands-on with everything. I took it as though I was the nearest punching bag, and it’s okay. It was a very small thing that was blown out of proportion,” she said.
Despite the very public disagreement, Orwoba urged the public to respect Machoka’s political views, reminding people that family ties remained intact regardless of the drama.
Watch the interview below:
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