Gladys Muthoni Njoroge, popularly known as Muthoni wa Kirumba, has built her public profile through radio, but her journey began far from the studios where she would later become a familiar voice to thousands of listeners.
She was born in Mombasa County, where she spent part of her early childhood before her family moved to Eldoret. The family later lived in Karura and Muthiga in Nairobi before eventually settling in the Kipipiri area of Nyandarua County, which at the time was part of the larger Ol Kalou Constituency.
Her childhood and education took her through several parts of the country, giving her experiences that would later form part of the story she tells about her upbringing. In primary school, she performed strongly in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, scoring 432 marks out of 500.
Her secondary education was equally eventful. She joined one school before later transferring to two other secondary schools and eventually became an alumna of Nyandarua Mixed High School. She completed her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education with a B+ grade, setting the foundation for her later pursuit of journalism and broadcasting.
Life in secondary school was not without its unusual moments. Muthoni has previously recalled being a rebellious student and getting into trouble over school rules. One of the incidents she has spoken about involved a preacher who was leading a compulsory prayer session at the school.
According to her account, the preacher’s approach during the session made her feel threatened. Muthoni had come from the school’s agriculture farm carrying a cabbage and, during the confrontation, she used it to kick the preacher. The incident became one of the memorable stories from her school years and reflected the outspoken personality that would later become part of her public identity.
Another incident from her school days involved a school water tank that had been launched during the tenure of former Cabinet minister Amos Kimunya. Muthoni has recalled using a wire to draw a small boy urinating on the commemorative board associated with the project. The prank was discovered when the minister returned to the site and saw the drawing.
Rather than ending her education, the incidents became part of the colourful story of a young woman who would later establish herself in the media industry. After completing secondary school, Muthoni pursued studies in Mass Communication and Journalism, preparing herself for a career that would eventually make her a recognizable voice in Kenyan vernacular broadcasting.
Her entry into radio marked a major turning point. She began her broadcasting career at Bahasha FM before moving to Kameme FM, where she established herself as one of the station’s prominent presenters. Her ability to communicate naturally with listeners, combined with her outspoken personality, helped her develop a sizeable audience.
At Kameme FM, she became widely known as Muthoni wa Kirumba and also earned the nickname Baby Top. Her career has included working alongside several popular presenters, with Kihenjo among the personalities with whom she developed a long-running broadcasting partnership.
Away from the microphone, Muthoni has also spoken openly about difficult experiences in her personal life. She has previously revealed that her parents separated while she was in Form Three, an experience she said affected her and her siblings.
She is also a mother to a son, Adrian, although she has generally kept details about his father and other aspects of her private family life away from the public spotlight.
Muthoni’s career has not been without controversy. During her earlier broadcasting years, she was involved in a confrontation with fellow presenter Keziah wa Kariuki at Bahasha FM. Muthoni later recounted that the disagreement escalated during a live broadcast and resulted in her slapping her colleague. Both presenters were suspended following the incident.
Despite such moments, Muthoni has remained active in the media industry and continued to build her reputation as an outspoken vernacular broadcaster. Her journey from a schoolgirl moving between different parts of Kenya to a recognised radio personality has been shaped by education, persistence, personal challenges and a distinctive broadcasting style.
Her story is therefore not simply that of a radio presenter. It is the story of a woman whose early years in Mombasa, Eldoret, Nairobi and Nyandarua preceded a career in which her voice and personality would eventually become her most recognisable trademarks.