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President Kenyatta I was interviewing military personnel to choose his aide de camp (ADC), but was not getting impressed with what the head honchos in the armed forces were sending until an impressionable 22-year-old Marsden Herman Madoka, eldest son of Anglican Church Canon Allan Madoka of Wusi, Taita, showed up.
Major (Rtd) Marsden Madoka: The former Mwatate MP, ADC to President Kenyatta I and Support Battalion, 3rd Kenya Rifles, now serves as chair of Kenya Ports Authority and KRA, courtesy of President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was driven to Lady Northey Nursery School up State House Road by Madoka’s future wife, Elizabeth.
Madoka, the alumnus of Shimo la Tewa High School, and who is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Internal Security, has served four presidents in between stints as head of HR at Kenya Breweries where he rose to GM, New Products. The former chair of ASK Show and Amateur Boxing Association, is a father of three.
Elizabeth Wambui Madoka: The first and last Miss Uhuru in 1963, when contestants just sent photos, and there were no auditions, was crowned Miss Uhuru by Mama Ngina Kenyatta at City Stadium with the winner’s perks comprising a five day trip to Japan. Kenyatta I later invited her at Harambee House, Nairobi, and she quit her clerking job at Barclays for the Government Secretarial College. Marsden and Elizabeth lived at State House, where Madoka taught her billiards.
One thing led to the other, and they walked under the ‘arch sabers’ mounted by the military at St Andrew’s Church, Nairobi during their wedding in December 6, 1971. Elizabeth, an alumnus of Alliance Girls, where she schooled with Beth Mugo, the president’s niece, was appointed social secretary, serving for 23 years, eight under retired President Moi. Among other duties, she oversaw the president’s wardrobe and pinned a fresh rose on his lapel daily. Mrs Madoka recently launched her memoirs, Miss Uhuru 1963: Working for Mzee Jomo Kenyatta.
Sam Madoka: Marsden’s younger brother is a ‘creative guru’ having worked with advertising giants Nuturn Bates, Grey, McCann Erickson, Ogilvy and now Down to Earth Communications. The alumnus of Chicago Business School and Lenana High School is also a gifted public speaker and painter. The painting of the Laibon Lenana at Lenana School main block was Sam’s immortal effort before he cleared in 1971.
