Singer Iyanii has opened up about dealing with scars from a terrifying robbery that almost saw him end up dead or in jail.
Speaking to King Kaka about a second chance at life, Iyanii said that he would have ended up in a life of crime.
“Crime was rampant in Eastlands where I grew up, you were either a musician or in crime. I was trying to find a balance.
Some of my friends were mandingo, so one day on a Sunday heading for jam session kama mbogi. We would walk in groups in case of trouble.”
They exited a club, when one of his friends snatched a handbag, leaving the victim screaming and alerting the public.
The group dispersed running off in different directions. Police were nearby who also witnessed the crime. They chased the group of boys.
“I heard gunshots. I was lucky enough in that process I entered a Dandora matatu. I noticed my jacket was blood-stained and I quickly removed it. So apparently when the police were shooting a bullet touched my hand and I have deep scars.”
He ditched his blood-stained hoodie minutes before a policeman stopped the vehicle to inspect if one of the criminals had boarded the vehicle.
“I removed it and threw it under the seat then I sat normally.” The police noticed him and demanded to know if he was in the group of thugs. He said no as a female passenger defended him.
Later she advised him against a life of crime. “Akasema be very keen because you could have been killed over something which you have not done. She told me to choose my company wisely.”
That had an impact on his decisions later in life. The scar from the bullet wound is a testimony that God gave him a second chance at life. “The scar was deep and kept bleeding all the time.”
He, unfortunately, returned to his criminal friends, “They were my boys I avoided them for some time but I went back.”
He then escaped death a second time when he refused to join them for a Sunday outing. The group stole once again but this time they were killed.
“I was not happy about it but it is our journey in life and things happen. The best thing is to learn.”
