Obachi Machoka is a veteran Kenyan media personality and long-time host of the favorite Roga Roga Radio show on Citizen Radio. The self-proclaimed Blackest Man in Black Africa is often on the spot for his age, career experience, and wealth. Uncle Fred Obachi Machoka biography shares even more intimate details.
Initially an army officer, Machoka transitioned into media influenced by the Voice of Kenya. His admirable life story is a making of time and passion aligned with natural talents.
Fred Obachi Machoka profile facts
Real name | Fred Obachi Machoka |
Nickname | Blackest Man in Black Africa |
Birthday | September 9, 1953 |
Age | 71 years |
Birth sign | Virgo |
Tribe | Kisii |
Birthplace | Masabo Village |
County | Kisii, Kenya |
Years active | 1970 to present |
Career | TV host, Radio presenter |
Uncle Fred Obachi Machoka biography
The cowboy radio host has previously shared exclusive details about his childhood, siblings, parents, and family history.
Machoka of the Kisii tribe shares ethnicity with top personalities such as CS Fred Matiangi and the retired Chief Justice David Maraga.
How old is Uncle Fred Obachi Machoka?
Born on September 9, 1953, near Masimba market in Kisii County, Fred Obachi Machoka’s age is 71 years as of 2024.
Even so, he prefers to celebrate his birthdays at his Isinya Ranch in Kajiado County
Educational background
The presenter started schooling at a young age compared to most of his classmates who were much older and married.
Upon completing primary and secondary studies, Obachi joined the Kenya Police.
He later pursued a course in Advertising and Public Relations.
Machokaโs ancestral background
The presenter spoke to Sorobi Moturi Erastus of Egesa FM about his family history, upbringing, and career journey.
Uncle Fred’s home is near Masimba market within Masabo Village in Nyaribari Masaba Constituency, along the busy Kiamokama โ Gesusu Road.
Elsewhere, he shares the same home constituency with renowned Kisii Politicians such as Senator Sam Ongeri, Hon Ezekiel Machogu, and the late Hezron Manduku.
Family tree and parents
The radio presenter and TV host is the grandson of Zephaniah Machoka, after whom he received the middle name Machoka.
Uncle Fred still holds childhood memories of his grandfather blessing him to fly in the skies.
Uncle Fred Machoka’s father Mzee Mathew Obachi was a career teacher who insisted on discipline. He turned 101 years old on June 6, 2024.
Similarly, Uncle Fred Obachi’s mother is a strict disciplinarian who never tolerated wrongdoings.
Machokaโs brothers and sisters
The journalist has at least three siblings, including Emeroka Secondary School Principal, Laban Nyangarora.
Others include Nyaega, and the United States-based Robinson Onchomba, formerly a teacher.
Fred Obachi Machoka wife Sophia
Uncle Fred met Sophia Machoka about 41 years ago. The two lovebirds dated briefly and married in 1979.
Sophia is a highly skilled landscaping woman with a tireless spirit.
The presenter openly acknowledges Sophia as the strongest pillar behind his ever-demanding career.
Sophia and his husband, Fred Obachi Machoka, celebrated their 40th marriage anniversary on December 7, 2019.
Their vow-renewing wedding attracted close friends and family members.
Governor Alfred Mutua and his gorgeous ex-wife Lillyanne Ng’ang’a are among those who attended the classy wedding at Fredโs Ranch.
Children and grandkids
Machoka and his wife Sophia have 4 children, including their firstborn son Santos Machoka.
The other three siblings are Marvin Machoka, Victor Machoka, and Angel Machoka.
On top of that, Machoka and his wife Sophia are blessed with a couple of grandchildren.
Elsewhere, Uncle Fred’s son recently walked down the aisle with his wife in a beach wedding held in Mexico
The happy Machoka could not hold the joy of seeing his son Santos marry the love of his life in a colorful wedding.
Relatives from Kenya witnessed the Cancun, Mexico-held wedding between Santos and Carla McQueen.
Fred Machoka son Victor Machoka
Also called The Sheriff, Victor is a professional hotelier in his mid-30s.
He is a managing director of Machoka International Group Ltd, popularly, Fred Machoka Ranch.
Victor is a hotel management graduate from Utalii College Kenya and the famed United States International University.
Besides, he has worked with Mamba Village Restaurant, Kahama Group of Restaurants, Sarova Panafric Hotel, and Avanti Group Ltd.
Obachi Machoka Career Journey
The Blackest Man in Black Africa started his career in the police force. He joined the General Service Unit in 1970, serving only 4 years.
Working as a GSU Soldier in the Northern Frontier District (NFD), now North Eastern Kenya, was highly life-threatening.
Working as a lead GSU officer in the Department of Communication exposed Uncle Fred to several skills.
In 2015, Machoka spoke to Jeff Koinange on NTV about the scary part of his job.
Furthermore, he told a painful story of how close GSU officers died while fighting against the notorious Al-Shabaab militants.
1. Special skills from the forces
Machoka still recalls the coded language and other specialized skills he learned while serving within the General Service Unit.
He has spoken about the ability to communicate miles away using a torch.
Also, he can read encoded telegraph texts, telex messages, and Morse Codes, which are all part of the security details.
2. Luck with Sanyo Juu Sanyo Tops
Uncle Fred was a huge radio fan in the police force.
At one point, he heard about the “Sanyo Juu Sanyo Tops” competitions on the Voice of Kenya, now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).
Uncle Fred decided to try, and luckily, he won. While picking the prize, the Sanyo Show producer loved his voice and challenged him to give broadcasting a shot.
Steering โThe Sanyo Juu Santo Topsโ shows were former KBC Presenters Saidi Omar Kazungu and Mohamed Ramah.
3. Success with Sanyo electronics adverts
Sanyo was a staggering brand in the Kenyan market when Uncle Fred transferred from the military to become a broadcaster.
It only took three years for Sanyo to replace Panasonic as a leading electronics brand in the country.
4. From a GSU officer to a celebrated media personality
Uncle Fred started his career as a journalist in 1975 with five-minute-long segments even as he prepared to resign from the GSU Unit.
The death of Saidi Omar Kazungu is a misfortune that opened more career doors for Uncle Obachi Fred.
The host presenter died from tuberculosis which was hardly curable at the time.
After that, Machoka took over the show as a co-host with Mohamed Ramah.
5. Going back to school for Journalism studies
The untrained Machoka realized he needed professional skills to sail faster as a radio presenter.
As a result, he enrolled in a course in Advertising and Public Relations. The new set of skills attracted even more commercial radio shows.
Fred’s fluent accent in Swahili and love for Lingala – Rhumba music became an added advantage in his career progress.
6. Kenya Broadcasting Corporation careers
The celebrated Sanyo Show aside, Uncle Fred hosted more programs, including Music Time and Talk of Time.
Popular shows by Fred Obachi Machoka include;
- Roga Roga on Citizen TV and Radio
- Mchanganyiko Maalum Na Bitcham
- Ugua Pole Na Lucozade
- Sportsman Ni Sawa Hasa
Obachi holds a legacy of hosting at least 20 radio shows sponsored by high-profile companies.
7. Starting FM 35, Fred Machoka at 35
Uncle Fred took his interest in commercial broadcasting to another level in 1988 by starting FM 35 Promotions Limited.
The PR and advertising company is still operational in Ramco Court along Mombasa Road, Nairobi.
The list of Fred Obachi Machoka advertisements in various media houses is endless.
8. Starting Roga Roga Citizen TV in 2002
Uncle Fred joined the newly opened Citizen Radio with help from Fred Afune and inspiration from Charles Nyaga.
His entry came when S.K Machariaโs Citizen Radio sought a competitive advantage against Metro Radio and Tony Musalameโs weekend show on KBC.
Before long, the ratings of Roga Roga Show overtook those of Metro Radios’ “Shaki Legi Show,” meaning โshake your legโ.
Uncle Fred’s Roga Roga show focuses on music videos from legendary Rhumba and Lingala musicians.
The show mainly features Kenyan artists and their counterparts from Congo, Paris, and France, among other states.
The influential Roga Roga Show is still running about two decades later. It comes on Citizen Television every Saturday.
Why the Blackest Man in Black Africa?
Uncle Fred picked the phrase “Blackest Man in Black Africa” from a traumatizing experience he observed in his childhood.
Having a darker skin tone caused many of his friends to quit school because of the black label against them.
Many of them lost their self-esteem following repeated “black” abuses. Both teachers and friends downplayed the dark skin color.
As soon as he became a celebrity, Obachi started normalizing the black skin tone by cultivating melanin confidence.
He is confident that those who identify with a black skin tone will no longer feel marginalized after listening to his show.
Uncle Fred Obachi Ranch in Kajiado
The long-time radio gangster owns the multi-million Fredโs Ranch on the outskirts of Nairobi City County.
The 15-acre ranch sits on the beautiful escarpments of Kisaju, Isinya in Kajiado County, along the multi-lane Kitengela – Namanga Road.
The modern ranch is excellent for preparing barbecue cuisine. More funfair activities include quad biking, horse riding, and farm excursions.
A well-maintained playground for children and picnic lovers also tells the same story.
Victor Machoka is the managing director of this exciting getaway ranch with a serene view of its surroundings.
Fred’s son shocked many when he turned down a well-paying job to concentrate on developing the ranch.
Fred Obachi Machoka house
In 2005, Fred relocated from Nairobi to his Kajiado Ranch, intending to give the project closer attention.
Fred Obachi Machoka Farm is purely organic with sufficient borehole water.
The champion presenter describes the farm as a therapeutic experience in his life.
Obachi Machoka meeting with Ken Rodgers
The multitalented Uncle Fred has traveled the world and interviewed wide-screen celebrities such as the late Ken Rodgers.
The two legends met in 2017 when the Roga Roga host was in the United States. Other celebrities on his checklist include;
- Ken Rogers
- Tabu Ley
- Manu Dibango
- Hugh Masekela
- Miriam Makeba
- Brenda Fassie
- Anna Mwale
- Kanda Bongo Man
- Yvonne Chaka Chaka
- Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Francois Luambo Luanzo Makiadi
Above all, Fred Obachi is the force behind Kanda Bongo Man’s historic music tour in Kenya.
Machoka’s role models
Obachi looks up to prominent journalists such as Leonard Mambo Mbotela and Mohamed Juma Njuguna.
Other role models are Hassan Mazoa, Elizabeth Akinyi, Stephen Kikumu, and Salim Mohamed
Latest news and controversies
Attention-seeking blogger Donald Onyango confused netizens in 2017 with fake news pronouncing Uncle Fred Machoka dead.
Many panicked only to discover that Fred Obachi Machoka of Citizen Roga Roga Show was healthy and alive.
Fred cleared the air much later, warning social media users against fake news.
Machokaโs net worth
Fred Machoka bags a six-figure salary from Royal Media Services.
He earns some more from businesses and high-end properties. Fred Obachiโs net worth is estimated at Ksh. 400 million.
Obachi Machoka contacts
Telephone | 0206003749 |
Twitter, X | @fredomachoka |
Four years in the military and five decades in journalism have earned the Blackest Man in Black Africa a deserved reputation. And now, Uncle Fred Obachi Machoka is a mentor to several talents.
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