Editor's Review

Fred Machoka was heard ordering security to eject Orwoba from the stage.

Veteran radio presenter Fred Machoka paused his own anniversary celebration to reprimand his niece, former nominated senator Gloria Orwoba. 

He ordered security to remove her from the stage after she began pushing a political message at the event.

Machoka was hosting a high-profile entertainment gala at the Ulinzi Sports Complex dubbed Machoka@50, held to mark his five decades in broadcasting.

The 73-year-old marked the milestone with a line-up of regional musicians and a guest list that included prominent political figures.

Orwoba joined him on stage as he was introducing his family, both immediate and extended, colleagues and other partners.

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The moment took a different turn when she was seen signalling "one-term" messaging, prompting the crowd to respond and causing a scene.

Visibly irked, Machoka paused his speech to address her directly.

"You cannot screw up my job. Please, security, remove this girl from this stage. Out! Next time you are with your uncle, you will know you have no choice but to abide. Imagine you will go out," he said.

Fred Machoka speaking at his Machoka@50 event.

His words made two points. He objected to what he saw as an attempt to disrupt an event that was meant to honour his career, and he reminded Orwoba of their family ties, suggesting she should have respected his authority at his own celebration.

By telling security to remove her, he showed he was prepared to eject a relative rather than let the programme be derailed.

"One-term" is a slogan used by critics of President William Ruto who want him to serve only one term in office.

Orwoba, who was expelled from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has been opposing the Ruto regime.

The event drew some of Africa's best-known musicians, including Congolese stars Koffi Olomide, Alicios Theluji and Mbilia Bel, Cameroonian Sam Fan Thomas, Kenya's Freshley Mwamburi and the Them Mushrooms group, among others.

Political leaders were also present, among them Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

Machoka's career began while he was serving as a soldier in the General Service Unit (GSU). In 1975, he entered and won a radio competition called "SANYO juu SANYO tops".

When he went to collect his prize, the programme's producer noticed his distinctive voice and gave him five minutes of airtime on the state-owned Voice of Kenya (VOK), now the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC), to promote SANYO electronics.

Seeing his talent and the potential of a career in media, he resigned from the police force in 1976 to pursue broadcasting full time.

After a stint at KBC, he moved to Radio Citizen, which is owned by Royal Media Services (RMS).

There he hosts the "Roga Roga" show, which airs every Saturday and Sunday and is dedicated to rhumba hits. The show also has an extension on Citizen TV every Saturday afternoon.