‘KASAVULI WAS INNOCENT’ FRED MACHOKA REVEALS WHY KANDA BONGO MAN WAS FORCED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY 

Popular radio presenter Fred Obachi Machoka has revealed intriguing details about his instrumental role in bringing Congolese music icon Kanda Bongo Man to Kenya and the unexpected controversies that ensued during the artist’s historic 1991 tour. 

Speaking during an exclusive interview, Machoka recounted introducing Kanda Bongo Man to Kenyan audiences and the dramatic series of events that led to the abrupt cancellation of a highly anticipated VIP concert at the New Stanley Hotel. “When Kanda Bongoman first came to Kenya in 1991, he didn’t speak English,” Machoka shared. 

“At the time, I was hosting the Music Time show, and I convinced a Congolese promoter, who had initially planned to bring a women-only band, to instead bring Kanda Bongoman.” The tour was a groundbreaking success, with sold-out performances at iconic venues like the Carnivore, Bomas of Kenya, KICC, and Nyayo Stadium, where 40,000 fans attended. 

To crown the tour, a VIP show was scheduled at the New Stanley Hotel (now Sarova Stanley), with tickets priced at Sh800 each for an exclusive audience of 300 attendees. However, the event took an unexpected turn when the police showed up just before the show, canceling it on what they described as ‘orders from above.’ “Everything was arranged and soundcheck was done and then police from State House came and said there was no show. When we asked why, we were told orders from above. I was told to announce it but I refused, I called the manager of the hotel and told him about the situation. The police announced the show had been cancelled, and there was chaos. I was told to tell Kanda Bongoman to leave the country immediately.” 

The shocking allegations tied the controversy to president Moi, “They claimed Kanda Bongo Man had been involved with a woman linked to the State House. When I asked who, they mentioned Catherine Kasavuli. But I had been with Kanda every minute of his stay.”

The following day Machoka accompanied the musician to the airport, “At the time Catherine was reading the news at the airport, I asked Kanda if he knew her and he said he said he didn’t know her,” Machoka clarified. 

Further investigations by Machoka suggested the interference stemmed from Kanda Bongo Man declining a private performance request for Hezekiah Oyugi’s associates in Rongo. “Oyugi must have felt disrespected and used Moi’s name to create issues. Kasavuli was innocent.” he said. Despite the controversy, Fred and Kanda remain close friends, “I have come far with Kanda Bongo Man. I still talk to him almost every week.”