Fred Obachi Machoka is a Kenyan broadcaster who rose to become one of the country’s best-known radio personalities after serving as a General Service Unit (GSU) officer and spending nearly 50 years behind the microphone.
Recently, during the recognition programme on July 9, the Media Council of Kenya (MCK) recognized Fred Obachi Machoka for marking 50 years in broadcasting.
Speaking during the launch of the recognition programme on July 9, MCK Chief Executive Officer David Omwoyo said the main celebration would be held in September in Nairobi.
The event will honour Machoka alongside other media personalities who have contributed to the development of Kenya’s media industry since independence.
Omwoyo said the celebrations would not only recognise individual achievements but also seek to preserve Kenya’s broadcasting heritage, strengthen institutional platforms for celebrating media excellence and inspire the next generation of media professionals.
‘Uncle Fred’, as he is popularly known by his fans, said his partnership with MCK aimed to strengthen the professional environment for journalists and ensure experienced media practitioners continue to play a role even after leaving active service.
“We have gathered here today to prepare how we can celebrate not only the 50 years I have spent in broadcasting, but also how, through our partnership with MCK, we can contribute to having meaningful discussions that can improve the working environment for journalists, including beyond the time when they retire,” he said.
From GSU Officer to Broadcaster
Before joining the media industry, Fred Machoka served as a General Service Unit (GSU) officer in Kenya’s Northern Frontier. He transitioned to broadcasting after participating in a radio competition while serving in the region.
Machoka won a SANYO radio competition and traveled to Nairobi to collect his prize. It was during the visit that a programme producer noticed his distinctive voice and suggested that he could have a future in radio.
Fred started his broadcasting career at the national broadcaster, then known as the Voice of Kenya (VOK) and now the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
During his early career, he became associated with programmes including Seng’enge ni Ng’ombe, Ugua Pole na Lucozade, Sportsman ni Sawa Hasa and Mchanganyiko Maalum na Bitchman. He also hosted television programmes including Music Time and Talk of Time.
In 1988, he established FM 35, a venture named after Fred Machoka and his age at the time, and the venture focused largely on commercial broadcasting.
The move demonstrated that his career extended beyond presenting programmes and into the business side of broadcasting.
Joining Citizen Radio
Obachi Machoka joined Citizen Radio in 2002, as the station established itself in Kenya’s increasingly competitive radio market.
He was brought in to host an African music programme that eventually became Roga Roga.
The show became one of the defining programmes of his career and Machoka’s knowledge of African music, particularly rhumba and Lingala, became central to the program’s identity.
According to Royal Media Services, Roga Roga is a music programme built around African hits, particularly music from the 1980s and 1990s, with Machoka providing stories and background about the songs and artists.
The Roga Roga programme later expanded to Citizen TV.
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Obachi Machoka Awards and State Recognition
In 2023, Obachi Machoka received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Annual Journalism Excellence Awards for his contribution to the media industry.
He was also awarded the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) by former President Uhuru Kenyatta in December 2021, in recognition of his contribution to broadcasting.
These honours have added to his reputation as one of Kenya’s longest-serving broadcasting personalities.
Away from the studio, Machoka also farms and runs a ranch in Kajiado County.
Royal Media Services describes him as an accomplished farmer who lives and farms on his ranch in the county.
His interests outside broadcasting include farming and hospitality, while he has also spoken about mentoring younger people entering the media industry.
Obachi Machoka and his wife, Sophie, celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary during a colourful ceremony at a luxurious ranch in Isinya, Kajiado County.
Together, the couple has children and grandchildren, though he has kept his family life private compared with his public career.
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