Cases of alleged wig snatching have resurfaced online in Nairobi CBD, leaving women with another concern as they navigate the capital’s busy streets.
Several women have taken to social media, sharing accounts of alleged incidents in which thieves target wigs, prompting warnings among women to remain extra vigilant while walking through crowded parts of the city.
Nail technician Kristy is among those who has recounted a frightening encounter in the CBD.
According to her, she was knocked down before her wig was allegedly snatched, while bystanders watched the incident unfold.
Model Shannz Matiru has also joined the conversation, raising concern over what she described as an apparent rise in wig-snatching incidents targeting women in Nairobi CBD.
In a video shared on TikTok, Shannz appeared frustrated by the alleged trend, joking that taking her wig would be almost the same as taking her entire hairline.
“Sasa sisi watu already tuko na forehead kubwa, ukiamua sasa umeenda na my wig, ni kumaanisha umening’oa my whole hairline,” she said.
She also humorously questioned whether the alleged thieves could have links to wig sellers, given the value of some of the wigs worn by women.
But concerns over wig theft are not entirely new.
In 2025, Kenyan content creator Mjaka Mfine reportedly fell victim to a robbery in Nairobi, losing a human-hair wig she said was worth Sh17,000.
Speaking during a phone interview with a radio station, Mjaka described the loss as significant, noting that human-hair wigs can cost more than Sh15,000 and saying hers was valued at Sh17,000.
The reports have since triggered a lively reaction online, with some Kenyans joking that thieves may have discovered a new target after realising that some wigs can be worth more than the phones they traditionally snatch.
Others, however, have condemned the alleged incidents, pointing out that losing a wig is not simply the loss of an expensive beauty accessory.
For some women, wigs are used to protect or conceal their natural hair, making a sudden loss in public both embarrassing and distressing.
Media personality @Media Messiah also weighed in during a morning show on Hot 96, condemning the alleged thefts and highlighting the embarrassment women can experience when their wigs are suddenly snatched in public.
Beyond the jokes and social media banter, the alleged incidents have opened another conversation about street safety in Nairobi, with women urging each other to stay alert while walking through crowded areas.