Former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba has won widespread admiration online after publicly defending her uncle, veteran broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka, less than 24 hours after he had her physically removed from his stage.
The drama unfolded on Saturday, 10 October, at the Machoka@50 Grand Concert held at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi, a prestigious evening marking half a century of Machoka’s broadcasting career.
The event featured performances from the likes of Koffi Olomide, Mbilia Bel, Sam Fan Thomas, Les Wanyika and Them Mushrooms, and drew notable guests including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and COTU boss Francis Atwoli.
Orwoba, Machoka’s niece, was invited on stage during family introductions. Once she had the microphone, she chanted “wantam” — the popular opposition rallying call for President William Ruto to serve only one term and flashed the accompanying hand signal to the crowd.
Machoka calls in security on his own niece
Machoka, clearly determined to keep his professional milestone free from political undertones, stepped in swiftly.
“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 said, as security personnel moved in to move her off the stage.
Footage of the ejection spread rapidly online, dividing opinion. Many criticised the 73-year-old broadcaster for publicly humiliating a family member, while others argued he had every right to protect the integrity of his event.
Orwoba asks Kenyans to leave Machoka alone
Orwoba had initially responded with a light-hearted jab, posting:
“Good Morning! Lazima nikumbushe Uncle mambo ni WANTAM!” But hours later, her tone shifted entirely.
“Leave my Uncle alone! He is a legend and he has achieved what very few people on this planet can. Because of this, he is allowed to deal with me whichever way he wants,” she wrote.
“So please, those abusing him, respect is paramount. Everyone is allowed to have their political stand, even Uncle Fred. #WANTAM”
The post was accompanied by a photo of Orwoba leaning over a white couch where Sifuna and Machoka, dressed in his signature red shirt, sat looking at a phone together.
The message drew praise across social media, with many commenters noting her emotional intelligence and willingness to place family loyalty above political grievance. One follower summed up the mood:
“This is how you do it. You can disagree politically but still honour family.”
Orwoba was first nominated to the Senate under UDA in 2022, rising to prominence through her campaigns against period poverty.
She was expelled from the party in May 2025 after aligning with former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i, and has since become a vocal critic of the government.
Machoka, meanwhile, has maintained a largely apolitical public image across his 50-year career on Radio Citizen’s Roga Roga programme.
