Popular Kameme FM presenter Muthoni wa Kirumba, better known as Muthoni Babytop, has parted with the dreadlocks she wore for 18 years. The makeover has become one of the most talked-about celebrity moments of the new month.

In a post on her social media pages, the presenter joked that her locks had grown up and left home. "My dreadlocks have reached a legal age! So I sent them to campus. After 18 years, tumeagana," she wrote. She added a note of renewal: "But hello to a new month, a new chapter, a new me... SAME GOD!"

A bold new look

In the photos, taken outside her home, Babytop wears a sleek black trouser suit and holds up her freshly cut dreadlocks with one hand while showing off a long, straight brown wig. According to K24 Digital, it is the first time she has been seen in a wig.

About an hour after the post, she went live on air at Kameme FM still wearing the new look. Listeners and online fans praised the change, Mpasho and K24 Digital reported, with many fans struggling to picture her without the locks that had become her signature.

A decorated voice on Kikuyu radio

Babytop is one of the best-known voices on vernacular radio in Mount Kenya and beyond. She left Kameme FM in 2022 after 12 years before later returning to the Mediamax-owned station.

  • In September 2025, she was named Female Radio Presenter of the Year at the Starbrands Awards held at Sarit Centre, Nairobi.
  • In October 2026, the Seer Africa Organisation awarded her a Certificate of Recognition for Servant Leadership, citing her work as a presenter and host at Mediamax.
  • The same organisation invited her to serve as its Goodwill Peace Ambassador in Kenya and across Africa.

Why the locks mattered

For many fans, the dreadlocks were part of Babytop's identity. They appeared in her public photos, events and awards for nearly two decades. Cutting long-held locks is often seen as marking a turning point, and the presenter's own words, "a new chapter, a new me", suggest she sees the change in the same way.

She has not said whether the wig is a permanent look or whether she plans other styles. Her fans, though, have made it clear the new look is a hit.

Photos: Muthoni Babytop/Facebook via K24 Digital. Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.