Kenya’s popular dating reality show Hello Mr. Right is returning for its fifth season with a new celebrity co-host, a wider range of contestants and more conversations about modern relationships. Actress, model and content creator Trisha Khalid has been unveiled as the latest addition to the show’s panel, joining Dr. Ofweneke and relationship expert Getrude Mungai. Her appointment follows weeks of speculation among viewers about who would take over the female co-host role previously held by Risper Faith. The new season is expected to bring more drama, different perspectives on love and marriage and a broader representation of people searching for relationships. The first episode of Hello Mr. Right Kenya Season 5 will air on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with the auditions episode scheduled for October 17.
Trisha Khalid was officially introduced as the new co-host during a press briefing at Victoria Towers in Upper Hill. Her unveiling was met with cheers from those attending the event, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the dating reality show. She takes over from Risper Faith, who served as the female co-host during the fourth season. The producers say Trisha was selected because of her personality, energy, authenticity and strong connection with Kenyan audiences. Her experience in television, entertainment and social media is also expected to give the programme a different style as the fifth season gets underway.
Dr. Ofweneke explained that the production team considered several potential candidates before settling on Trisha. According to him, around five names were initially discussed during the selection process. The team considered factors such as personality, energy, originality, views about love and marriage and overall presence before making its decision. Trisha ultimately emerged as the preferred candidate because the producers believed she could bring the right balance to the programme. Dr. Ofweneke also suggested that viewers should expect an entertaining season, while Trisha herself joked that she was ready to give her fellow host a difficult time on screen.
Trisha has promised to bring more energy and fun to Hello Mr. Right Kenya Season 5. Her arrival gives the programme a new dynamic because she comes into the role with an established entertainment profile and a large social media following. She has built a career across acting, modelling, content creation and business, giving her experience in several areas of Kenya’s entertainment industry. Her television background also means that she is familiar with working in front of a large audience. Her ability to generate discussion online could become an important part of the show’s appeal as viewers react to the contestants, dates and panel conversations.
StarTimes marketing director Tamima Ibrahim said the decision to select Trisha was deliberate. She described the new co-host as someone who is already familiar to audiences and has significant social media influence and television experience. The broadcaster sees her profile as an opportunity to connect the dating show with a younger audience that follows entertainment personalities closely online. Trisha has more than four million followers on TikTok and has developed a substantial digital presence alongside her acting and modelling career. Her appointment therefore combines the traditional television audience of Hello Mr. Right with the large online audience that follows her work.
The fifth season will also introduce a more diverse group of contestants. According to the producers, the cast includes differently abled participants and people living with skin pigmentation challenges. The season will also feature men and women aged 45 and above, including contestants who are divorced, separated or widowed. Some participants are in their 50s, while one 65-year-old man is joining the programme in search of love. This broader casting approach allows Hello Mr. Right Kenya to explore relationships among people at different stages of life instead of focusing only on younger singles.
Getrude Mungai has highlighted the presence of mature contestants as one of the notable changes in the new season. The relationship expert said the programme will feature women aged over 45 as well as the 65-year-old man who is looking for a partner. Their participation could introduce different experiences and expectations around dating, companionship and marriage. Older contestants may also bring perspectives shaped by previous relationships, divorce, separation, widowhood and other life experiences. Their stories are likely to add another layer to the discussions taking place between contestants and the panel.
The expanded cast also gives the show an opportunity to explore questions about relationships that affect people across different age groups. Dating after divorce can involve different expectations from dating for the first time, while widowed contestants may approach companionship from another perspective. People living with disabilities or skin pigmentation challenges can also bring personal experiences that are not always represented prominently in mainstream dating programmes. By including participants from these groups, Season 5 is positioned to present a wider picture of what people seek from relationships. The success of this approach will depend on how thoughtfully the contestants and their stories are handled throughout the season.
Dr. Ofweneke says the conversations will extend beyond attraction and the search for a romantic connection. He expects the programme to examine realistic experiences involving love, relationships and expectations around marriage. Topics such as family, money and wealth are also expected to feature in discussions as contestants consider whether potential partners are compatible. The panel will also debate everyday relationship questions, including who should pay in a relationship and what financial maturity means. These conversations could create some of the season’s most heated moments because contestants and viewers are unlikely to agree on every issue.
The question of household responsibilities is also expected to generate debate during the new season. The panel is set to discuss issues such as who should cook and how couples should approach financial responsibilities. These questions remain relevant in many Kenyan relationships, particularly as social expectations around marriage and gender roles continue to change. A dating reality show provides a public platform for contestants to express their individual expectations and challenge views they consider outdated. The resulting disagreements could provide some of the raw and unfiltered drama that viewers expect from Hello Mr. Right Kenya.
Hello Mr. Right was created by StarTimes as an African-produced dating reality show and has been adapted for different African markets. The format began in Zambia in 2018 before being localised in other countries. In the Kenyan version, single women meet eligible bachelors who go through different stages, tasks and personality tests as they seek to find a suitable match. The process eventually leads toward the search for a “Golden Date,” giving the programme a structured approach to finding romantic compatibility. The Kenyan edition premiered in December 2018 with Dr. Ofweneke as the host.
Over the years, Dr. Ofweneke has worked with different female co-hosts on the Kenyan edition of the programme. Previous co-hosts have included Vera Sidika, Shix Kapienga, Diana Marua and Risper Faith. Trisha Khalid now becomes the latest personality to join him on the panel, continuing the show’s tradition of pairing the lead host with a new female co-host across its seasons. Each change has brought a different personality and style to the programme. The latest transition is particularly significant because Trisha enters the show with a strong digital following at a time when television and social media increasingly influence each other.
Trisha’s career also gives her a connection to both entertainment and popular culture. She rose to national prominence through a viral TikTok skit and later gained wider recognition for playing Ruby in the Maisha Magic East telenovela Kovu. Her performance in the series earned her a 2020 Kalasha Awards nomination for Best Lead Actress. She later appeared in Citizen TV’s drama series Becky, further establishing her presence as an actress. Alongside entertainment, she runs Tees Beauty Salon in Bamburi and the online fashion boutique Trendy Collection, adding entrepreneurship to her professional profile.
The timing of the fifth season places Hello Mr. Right in a period when dating content continues to attract strong interest across Kenyan television and social media. Reality programmes can generate conversation well beyond the scheduled broadcast because viewers share opinions about contestants, relationships and controversial moments online. Trisha’s large TikTok following could increase that interaction and bring new viewers to the show. At the same time, the programme’s established audience gives her a platform to reach people who may know her primarily through television or social media. The combination could make Season 5 particularly active across different forms of entertainment media.
StarTimes has identified Hello Mr. Right as a key piece of its local programming for the October period and the festive season. The broadcaster says the show has performed well and that subscribers have remained supportive over its previous seasons. Its continued investment in the programme indicates that the dating format remains important to the broadcaster’s local entertainment strategy. The fifth season is therefore expected to maintain the show’s familiar structure while introducing new contestants, new conversations and a new face on the panel. The combination of established elements and changes is designed to keep long-time viewers interested while attracting new audiences.
The viewing schedule gives fans several dates to mark as the new season approaches. The auditions episode is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, while the first full episode will land on Saturday, October 31. New episodes will air every Saturday at 8pm. Viewers can watch the programme on Rembo TV, which is available on StarTimes aerial and DTT decoders on channel 113 and on StarTimes DTH on channel 484. The show will also stream on the StarTimes ON App, giving viewers another option for following the fifth season.
The arrival of Trisha Khalid and the expanded contestant pool suggest that Hello Mr. Right Kenya Season 5 is aiming for a broader and more varied approach to dating reality television. The show will continue its search for romantic matches while giving contestants space to discuss money, marriage, family, attraction and personal expectations. The inclusion of older participants, differently abled contestants and people with different life experiences could make the relationship discussions more varied than in previous seasons. Trisha’s presence also adds a new entertainment dimension to a programme that already has an established audience. With the auditions beginning in October and the first episode scheduled for October 31, viewers will soon see whether the new panel and diverse cast deliver the higher-stakes drama promised for Season 5.
