- Veteran broadcaster Fred Obachi Machoka owns a sprawling 15-acre agri-tourism property tucked in the serene escarpments of Kisaju, Kajiado County
- The cowboy-themed resort took 27 years to build from raw bushland and required a KSh 4 million investment from Machoka to get off the ground
- Machoka's son Victor gave up a six-figure salary to manage the ranch, and the family hosted a landmark birthday broadcast there in 2024
It takes a certain kind of vision to look at dry, arid bushland in Kajiado and see a flourishing resort.
Source: UGC
Fred Obachi Machoka, the veteran broadcaster celebrated as the host of Roga Roga on Radio Citizen and Citizen TV, had exactly that vision and 27 years later, the results speak for themselves.
Nestled along the Kitengela-Namanga road at Isinya, Kisaju, Fred's Ranch and Resort sits about 80 kilometres from Nairobi on a 15-acre property that now features manicured lawns, grazing high-grade cattle, a fruit orchard and a full Western cowboy-themed resort complete with horse stables, rodeo hats, sheriff badges and barbecue cuisine.
From bushland to agri-tourism gem
The property offers visitors horse riding lessons, quad biking, swimming, picnics, farm tours, camping and a children's playground. It has drawn some of Kenya's most prominent names through its gates, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta and the late Azimio leader Raila Odinga.
Behind the polished exterior, though, lies a story Machoka himself is candid about. "Oh yes! That's what people think when they visit this ranch for the first time.
Many assume this must be so easy, if Fred did it, I can also do it. Some have tried to replicate the idea but have failed miserably because they do not know the thorns behind this rosy story," he once said.
The ranch was the brainchild of his son Victor Machoka, now the Managing Director and affectionately known as "The Sheriff." In 2015, a 34-year-old Victor walked away from a six-figure salary to invest in the family project. Their first event, a Labour Day Barbecue held in May 2015, was nearly washed out by heavy morning rains.
Victor Machoka recalls the early days
"The morning of the event, it rained, heavily. We were so frightened that no one would show up. But we got close to 100 guests who ended up happily playing football and volleyball in the rain," Victor recalled.
"People stayed on even after darkness fell and we used our car headlights to light the place because we weren't connected to electricity. It was one of those moments when you just know you're onto something special."
Victor funded the startup from his personal savings. Following a strong 2015, a Sh4 million injection from his father helped officially launch the resort in 2016.
The property today operates as both a private family retreat and a commercial agritourism hub, and also houses a hospitality training school.
In September 2024, Fred Machoka marked his 70th birthday with a live broadcast of Roga Roga from the ranch, an occasion that moved him to tears as his wife Sophie paid tribute to him as her pillar of strength.
More recently, nominated senator Gloria Orwoba, Machoka's niece, gave her followers a peek at the lush property after a visit, describing the experience simply as "Good Vibes."
Source: TUKO.co.ke