You only live once, so the saying goes, but some people seem to have nine lives. Caroline Nyanga speaks to celebrities who have had a close brush with death about their experiences and what they learnt...

Only last week singer Nameless, Pilipili and radio presenter Edward Kwach were involved in an accident in Voi on their way to Mombasa. According to the trio, they were the victims of a driver who was over speeding.

"It was all well until at one point when we noticed a speeding Mercedes trying to overtake us at a sharp corner," says Kwach. Before they knew it, the two vehicles collided. Two passengers from the other party died. The driver chauffeuring the trio fractured his knees, while Nameless and Kwach had minor injuries. Pilipili escaped unscathed.

"I thank God that I am alive," says Kwach.

Although he adds that he was initially angry at the driver about the whole incident, he later realised that there was no point in harbouring hard feelings against him considering he had survived. He says at that point, nothing went through his mind, which seemed all blank. "You know you rarely think straight in such a situation, save perhaps for thoughts of your family," he says resignedly.

Aside from being thankful to have survived the ordeal, nothing has changed much for the presenter. This is the second time he has been involved in a car accident. His mother informed Pulse that she would like her son to accept Christ and change his life for the better. By the time of the interview, Kwach was still in Nairobi Hospital. Doctors are upbeat about his progress and want him to get some bed rest.

Nameless, on the other hand, was treated and discharged within five hours of the accident. He has had other close shaves.

Take an extreme case where he and the late E-Sir were involved in a car accident along Nakuru- Nairobi highway in March 2002, when they were returning to Nairobi after performing at the Miss Tourism Nakuru chapter pageant. Their Mitsubishi Pajero lost control and rolled several times, killing E-Sir and a friend while Nameless escaped with minor injuries. And again later, Nameless was with K-Rupt just hours before he was shot dead by gangsters during a car-jacking incident. "I haven’t come to terms yet with the fact that both of them are gone, considering that I was the last person to speak and be with them."

Nameless adds that each day he has to wake up to the reality that they are no more. "It’s like a bad dream to lose people close to you," he says, almost overcome with emotions. Adding that at that moment his mind went blank- and he could think of nothing. Nameless says however, that going through the process of denial has done him no good because it is God who gives and takes.

So what has changed? According to Nameless, a lot. "I realise how important life is and the fact that it is a gift from God. We need to treasure every bit of it because you never know when it will come to an end. I owe my life to God because he has seen me through the rough times," he added.

The Beast from the East, Big Pin, has also had a close shave with death. Gangsters shot him in the arm a few years ago and left him for dead. The singer lived to tell the tale after his mother returned home, found him and rushed him to hospital. "I remember I was watching my favourite programme on television when five strangers drove into our compound in Greenfield’s Estate and demanded to see my mother," he says.

Only last year, the Luo rap king almost brushed shoulders with death again when the flight he and Nameless were on was involved in a mishap. The duo were on a flight from Malindi when the weather seemed to conspire against a smooth landing as thick clouds and stormy rains pounded the city.

Passengers were tense as the plane circled the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for over 20 minutes, attempting to land. It did not happen, and to aggravate anxiety, it was announced that the plane was being rerouted to Mombasa. All the while, Nameless, wearing his trademark red bandana and designer shades, remained visibly shaken but calm. Next to him, an equally de-stabilised Big Pin kept mum, his mind apparently miles away. The trip back to Mombasa was smooth and on touch-down, almost all passengers reached for their mobile phones to make calls to loved ones.

Recently, Big Pin was in a car accident at the Museum Hall roundabout in which his chest was injured. He was admitted to Aga Khan Hospital and discharged after a few days. "Man, when you are up there in a situation like that, you get to start thinking about stuff — about people you have wronged, your buddies, about saying I love you," says Big Pin.

Big Pin says he has since realized that it is important to love your life since you never know what may befall you the next minute. The musician says he now sees life differently.

"I was also lucky that I did not carry along my gun because it could have probably degenerated into an exchange of fire that would have ended my life," he says.

Nonetheless, this is one experience he’ll never forget. He says as a result of this he has become more conscious about his life and his security. I decided to move out of Kiambu and also to take my career seriously after realising that life is too short.

Tom Mboya, on the other hand, was walking to his Eastleigh Estate home from work when gun-toting gangsters pounced on him about a year ago, roughed him up and robbed him of his cell phone and money. Although several months have passed, Mboya, remembers vividly how he almost lost his life that morning. He suffered a serious eye injury, but the thugs were not lucky — he recognised one of them and reported the incident to the Pangani Police Station.

Police informed him, however, that that the weapon used was a homemade gun, and worse still his attacker was set free. Since then, the 26-year-old musician popularly known as Japuonj has never had peace. He fled to Kisumu to hide for almost a year, fearing for his life. Today, Japounj says that the police gunned down three gang-members last year while a fourth was shot dead a month ago in an exchange of gunfire with police in Eastleigh. He still fears for his life and has opted to spend most of his nights in Githunguri.

"I believe the remaining gangster, who is also the leader, is still on the look out for me," he says. Though the rapper is still on the hit list of the surviving gang leader, his passion for music has brought him back to the estate with his rap group Kenyanna."I still receive death threats through my mobile phone from the gang, whose numbers reduced drastically from five to one," he says. Perhaps the rapper is just lucky since one member of the group, Dan Okong’o aka Obila is a police officer. "During the attack, my mind went blank since I knew I was a dead man," says Jalupo. He now sees life differently.

"I believe God has a purpose for me. I know there are people who die on a daily basis under the same circumstances and hence the need to take things seriously," he says.

Gospel group Voices United Choir cannot get over the tragedy that befell them when the Mash Bus they were traveling in veered off the road after loosing control, killing seven members a year ago. The group of 28 (first lot) was on their way to Mombasa Pentecostal Church for a fundraising concert when the accident happened. All they remember is rolling over and over until they reached an end where the bus was upside down.

"I remember not wanting to open my eyes at all although someone later informed me that I kept screaming over and over," says Maina. "The first thing I did was to feel my limbs if they were ok and later crawled out of the bus — running towards the roads trying to seek help," she says, weeping.

Maina says it was only after she saw the whole scene from the road that she got the shock of her life. "Knowing that someone close to you is missing in the group, especially during rehearsals was difficult but with time we have learnt to accept that it is part of life," says Maina who was slightly injured.

Another survivor, Cathy Ombasa, remembers mentioning the name of Jesus before she passed out. "In my dream I remember pinching myself over and over just to assure myself that I was alright," she says.

She has since realised that life is too short and values it much more.

"The incident made me realise that death can come at any time and it is important that we are prepared at all times," she says. She also values members of her group much more. Ken Nyaga, another survivor, remembers being awake all along and doesn’t even remember rolling. I remained intact, the only thing I realised was that the bus was upside down," says Nyaga.

He recalls going upfront 10 minutes before the accident to ask their director, who was seated next to the driver, why the bus was speeding. In my mind I remember doing that, then...nothing," he says. For him the impact wasn’t too much, he says he has learnt to master the art of shock. "I remember hearing screams and people wailing but I just remained calm," he says, adding that the whole incident was similar to what is depicted in the movies.

He says he managed to drag himself out of the bus but later realised he was not in a state to help anyone as he had broken his leg. Nyaga now sees life as an irony. "Irrespective of who you are life has a similar experience for everyone who is bound to learn lessons in different ways." He says it’s futile to keep looking for answers as one is bound to get the negative things. The group has also recruited new members. They are now close to 40.

Radio presenter Muthoni Bwika, for one, wouldn’t be alive today. She and Laura Walubengo were involved in a car-jacking drama.

The duo was in the Valley Arcade area when the armed gangsters approached them and demanded the car, but Muthoni declined. What followed was harrowing as one of the gangsters, running out of all patience with her, put a gun to her head – and coldly pulled the trigger. As miracles go, the gun did not fire.

After a while, the reality of the horrific drama playing out on them dawned on the two, and they began screaming at the top of their voices — attracting attention from all over the place and scaring away the robbers. It is said that the armed robbers once again tried shooting in the air and this time round, the gun emitted live bullets. Although the two escaped death — indeed it was as close as you come down to the live wire of death!