 So what happens when life throws lemons at you? And the song you're just listening to is by one man, John Shombo, who has had so much lemon strewn at him, but he has managed to make something out of them. You can be part of this conversation by sending in your questions, your comments on our social media pages, at e-circuit on all social media pages, Instagram, Twitter and on Facebook. Or you can reach me on my social media pages at nyaga.com, one on Twitter and on Instagram, and at Evelyn Nyaga on Facebook. From being in prison to being a street child, he has been through it all. And we just want to know how he overcame all these challenges and to inspire someone out there who is going through the same. Welcome John. Thank you so much. How are you today? Fine, thank you. How are you today? I'm fine. Yeah. That's fine. I'm fine. As you were talking earlier, you told me about some of the things that you went through as a child. Yeah. So I want us to begin up. Yes. So how was your childhood growing up? Yeah. I grew up with a single parent, which is my mother, Joyce Swamboy. I grew up with a mother named Narok, and then she passed away. So when she passed, I had to leave her because I had to go to Tessa and other grandparents or Tessa. So I had to leave Narok and go to Nairobi. And I was, I was a kid when I was seven, I was a kid when I was 12 years old. So I grew up in a street boy, but when I went to Nairobi, I went to Kona, see Moduru, see O'Ape. So I was on the street, and I was living in Nairobi until 2003 because I remember I was 97 years old and I was 96, 97 years old. So I was living in Nairobi until 2003 because I remember I was 97 and I was 96, 97. Yeah. Like how many years? She's, she's a predict, but I was almost seven, ten years old. Yeah. So until two, four, three, I had to go to school because I had to go to re-habilitation. Because, so I had to go to re-habilitation. So I went to school because I had to go to re-habilitation. Yeah. And your time, your mother was not looking for you? Mmm. And where were you? Even when I came home before, my, my parent had me pass by me, my mother. Okay. So up to date, she's the only one by my side. Yeah. Okay. So help me understand. Yeah. At the past time, you were living in Nairobi? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So there was no one who could take care of you? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, when you got into the street, I know what was street like, Chakula, Nairobi? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And we're set. That's it. OK. Sure. I'll take the initiative. Why? I was at the land of Yoshida, maybe in Paris and Kanjo. I was at the police station, I was at the police station. My children were in the hospital and I was at the hospital. They were at the hospital. How old are you? I'm 6 years old. I was at the hospital. I was at the hospital for 6 years. I was at the hospital for 6 years. I was at the hospital for 6 years. So, when you are living in the streets, are there many drugs that you take with you? Yes. Do you take drugs with you? And, do you take drugs with you in drug at one point? Mom, I take drugs with me. I take drugs with me, that's when I go to bed. It's easy to get my CMP card. Mom, you get a G-Penge. I don't take any kind of photos of 30 descendant. I take two hands for cigarettes, I was very young. When you were young, you were not able to do anything. I was a common person with straight children. I was not a common person, but when I was a child I was able to do nothing. I was one blood. I was not able to do anything, but I was able to do everything. I was struggling and I was able to do everything. so now we have to stay for a couple of days and then we leave when we catch on to something then we are full after that we grow then we go for a two week day when it's free when it's free we go to the cafe when the coffee is free it's free then we go to the cafe you can buy the coffee we can go to the cafe Oh, Dari is a good idea. Yes, because I'm from Alim to Napaangalain too. I'm from Napaangalain. So I came to Napaangalain, I went to the corner, I came to ask for money from China. Money from China? Yes, money from China, money from China. Yes, snatching, by this snatching, especially from the place where I live. So, when I see someone snatching, I don't know if it's because I'm from Alim to Napaangalain. So I don't know if it's because I'm from Nishika. I don't know if it's because I'm from Nishika. I don't know if it's because I'm from Nishika. But I don't know if it's because I'm from Nishika. That is quite something. Thank you. So, after all those things. Yes. You can continue living in India. Yes, I can. And, I don't know if it's because I'm from Alifiaweezy. I don't know if it's because I have read stories, I don't know stories, maybe online. I don't know if it's because I'm from Street Child and I don't know if I graduate or not. Eventually, I'll be able to learn. Where do you get the points? I get the points. But before I learn, I get the points. I get the points. I get the points. I don't know if it's because I'm from Nishika. And you don't know if it's because I'm from Nishika. But it's because of kids. Kids are 16 years old. Wow. When I was born, I had a baby. I had sexed already. I was approved for a quarter of my life. I went to school for 14 years when I was born. I changed from 17 to 18 years old. So, after 2-3 months I got pregnant. When I went to school, I got married. When I went straight to school, rehabilitation, because I was misbehaving, I was in rehab and I was in high school, I was 14 years old. So I was in primary school, I was in Makadara, I was in Bali. So I was in class 5, from up to 8th grade. What year did you high school? I was in the 3rd grade, then I was in my 8th grade. When I was in school, I was in 10th grade and my mother left. You were in school then, and you were at school? Yes, I was at school. I decided to go to Siipua for a scholarship, because I didn't have enough money. Then I went to Syurini, I'm in love with the house, I'm always well-designed and well-designed. I went to the house and bought a house. I was told that it's very old. Yes, it is. I was in Malitena at 50-50. How many houses do you have? I have two. I'm from Kobahati. I live in Kobahati. I live in a house. So I was told that I was going to be in the Kumbak area. I was told that I was going to be in the Michana area. There was a scene of crime in the area. I was in Majengo, I was in Majengo, I was in the bridge there, so that's where I was going to be. I was going to be in the area, but I was not going to Peter. I was told that I was going to be in the Bank, so that's where I went to, because I was going to be caught. I was going to Peter, to the Michana area. No one was coming around. I was told that I was going to be in the Bank. I was fully conscious. I was told that I was going to be in the China area, and the scene of crime was in the area. So that's where I was going to be. And I didn't get a place. So, you were still at the school? Yes, I was in the school at the time, I was almost there. And I was in a place where I lived. When I was first, I was there. So, I was in the school. I was in the school, I was wearing a black jacket. I was in the school, I was working. I was in the school, I was in the school. I was in the school, I was in the school. I was making it to the children, and I am the wife of my mother, I was also angry. I say, the son said I can't be like everyone else. If I didn't say the son is angry, I'll tell him that I have a criminal side. I can't be like that because I am not a notary. Yes, someone like me was angry. But me, I changed. I was not a habbitous woman, I was a scurrying woman. I was scurrying other women. And then I told them I had a wife that was who I was. So at the point, when I took a photo of him, he told me he was going to be a police officer. So he was going to be a police officer at the time of his death. He was going to be a civilian. So he left me. He was going to be a police officer, I said I'll leave him alone. He was going to be a police officer at Ramirez. And he left you? Yes, I went back to the village. I went to the police post. He left you? I went to the police post and left. You were not part of the crime? I said, if I could, I would be at the police station. I told him, I'm going to leave you. I'm going to leave you alone. So you're leaving me alone? Yes, but he said he was going to leave me alone. He was going to leave me alone. Why? Because he said he was going to be a police officer. You are not part of the crime. I had a lot of money and money, but later on, I had to go to Naraia. So, the inspectors had to go to Tengu and Lekuja, they had to go to Picha and Book. I was told that I had to go to Nambuk. So, I had to go to Book and I had to go to Nayenda. Nayenda. Okay. Yeah. So, I went to Liza to God. I went to the temple. What was your time at the temple? I went to Shafiq Shaitin, but I went to Shwadi. So, you went to Mdogo? Yes, I went to Mdogo. That was November 2014. So, I went to Shaorimoa police station. I took a statement. I went to Vituzao. I went to Kalishu on the 3rd floor. And then, I went to Australia Prison. So, how long in prison? Prison, I served for two good years. For nothing. For nothing? Because you were not part of that crime? Anytime I go to the court, I go to Liliya and I go to Nisha. I go to Kujangi. I go to Kujangi to complain. I go to witness. I go to arresting office. But you go to Kutui? Yes, I go to Kutui. I go to Kutui. I go to Patea time. Until I reach time, I go to Wachiliwa. During this investigation, one of my staff had already been arrested. Had been arrested? Had been arrested in Wachiliwa. The case was very serious. So, the judge was crying. He had been arrested on Section 87A. But he was still in Nisha. He had been in jail for 24 hours. He was caught in a case. He had been a victim of street attacks. Oh, he was a witness. So life here in prison, how was it? Too hard, too hard. That is the hard, too hard. Because when I was pregnant, or when I was pregnant, there was no one. I struggled a lot. Until, each time, I said, Hey, I need to be born again. So, I went to jail. I was in jail. I had a mouse, Bible studies, I had a diploma and a certificate. And then I said, I was in prison, I was in prison, I was in prison, What did you do before? I was in prison. You were in the street? I was in the street. I was in rehab. I was in rehab. I was in the house of Julevi Mianza. I was in the car wash, I was in the car wash. I was in the car wash. I was in the car wash. You were in the car wash, and you went to jail. I was in prison. I was in prison. Is it something that you are out of? When you are out, you tell me? Yes, yes. I told you. All the time, I was with mother, with father, with relatives, there was no one. I used to go to school. When I was a child, I had a good life. I had a good parent, I had a good life, I had a good life. When I was in Chippuka, I was acrobatic. But you were an angel? I was an angel. I was a dancer. I used to dance. I used to listen to music. I used to sing. I was a mini-pasta. I was a baby. I used to go to jail. I used to go to jail. We used to go to jail together. I ate with a special knowledge. I was begginers. Some people came and did not let me go. And that was what I did. So, at least, I was level in my life. I had a good life. I loved going to jail. I use to be an angel for God. What did you do after two years? After two years, I went to jail. What did you do after you went to jail? I was confused because I didn't know what to do, I didn't know what to do and then I changed, I was stuck in a bus You changed, totally changed So my company is my best friend and I feel like I'm a good person and I feel like I'm a good person because of my style and my smoke I don't know what to do I don't know what to do I don't know what to do I don't know what to do I don't know what to do Because I know that I don't have to go to a good place I have to go all the way to the city So you are in a good place but until now, it's just a place where I know I can't go I struggle because if I have time I can't feel pressure with my smoke I feel like my smoke, I feel like I have the smoke So to say my rehabs here in our city are 100% and my only option is to say I'm going to go to college. Okay, what I'm going to say is that there are millions, but the decision I make is that I can make it. I'm going to study here, I'm going to work here. So my decision is to make, I'm going to go to school because I'm going to rehabilitate my children. I'm going to study here, I'm going to work here and I'm going to change. And after you're in jail, do you feel like what you're going to do in jail is going to be accepted by the community? Or are you going to be treated like that? Thank you. So we can go back to the society unless we find a way to change it. That's why I decided to go to MZK. I wanted to preach because I didn't want to come back. I didn't want to come back all over. I wanted to go straight and preach up. I wanted to go to MZK. So at least the end of the day was close. So you struggle to get back to what you accept as community? I'm not sure. So what is your music? My music is 2015. I was born in Kewandani. I'm a musician. I know how to sing, but I don't know how to sing. I'm a musician. I know how to sing. I know how to sing. I know how to feel and how to be a talent. So I'm a musician. I'm a singer. I'm a main producer. I recorded in my band, Peel, before I was a singer. I recorded in my band, MZK, I did various things. So I recorded in my band, switch, I was a singer. I was a fellow musician. I was a musician. I was a singer until I started to work. So I was a singer until I started to work. Until I started to work. I was working on a video. I was working on music. So I struggled. I was told to come to you, I was very busy. I made a video. I was told to come to you after. I was told to be serious, but I was told to come to you by myself. Oh, you were told to come by yourself? I was told to come. I was told to come to your house. Yes, I was told to come to you by myself. So I was told to come to you by myself. I was told to come by myself. I was told to come by myself. I was told to come by myself. When did you start recording? I was in 2017-18. But there was a video. There was a video of me being in jail. Then I got attacked. So I was in a video bat. The producer and I were in jail. So I have been doing it for a while now so I don't want to stay in a place where I can't do this So you are still working on it? Yeah So currently, I am self- decreased because of the boost, money laundering and I still live in my own house I'm the only one who can do it I don't pay money when I'm off Can you imagine? I was working on a crutch and it was like I was doing my daily bread And I started working in the market because I was selling bananas. I was selling bananas and I was selling it to sell it. And then I had a problem. So people asked me to buy 50 bucks for a month. So I paid for it. So I asked myself, what's up? I said, I'm selling and I'm willing to pay, and I'm willing to pay for it. So I was selling my own music. We entered into a chaos. There was a guy who was told I was the first person to report. I had a credit card registered by the government. His certificate was in it. He then passed it on to me. He shook me. He asked me to sign a form of 8th and this was the same. I decided to save him and put him in a position to get the management to take care of him. So life changed 100 percent, right? I said 99.9% 99% So what about when you first came here? When I first came here, I was in... In the streets? In the streets, sorry In rehab? In jail? When I first came here, I was in jail because I was an industrialist I used to pray to God, I used to have temples, I used to wear t-shirts Saboni I used to have temples in Anga, I was a committee, Maxman So some people were in jail, but since they were in water But some people were in jail, I was in jail And I was in Uberia So I had a potato testimony Because when I was here, they feel that I was in jail They feel that I was in jail And when I was in jail, I felt that I was in jail So, what would change? The last time I was in jail, it was Sunday Amushu last month So you were in jail? Yes, I was in jail, I was in church I was in Shiriki Church, I was in Sita, in Fally Road So I took the mission to get out So some people were in jail, I was in jail But some people were in jail So I had a chance, I was in the minister So up to 21 people, I was in jail And then, I was in jail I was in jail, I was in prison And you were in jail? Yes, I was in jail So you were in jail? Yes How many times did you come to Serkwa Street? Most of the time, until you were in jail How much time was it that you were in jail? The games I played with were two I was in his place, and I was in his place And I was the only one to ask him If he saw the girl first before he was in jail That's when I'm told that I was in a bad situation We told them we were suffering from cancer, but most of us, we were suffering from cancer. We were struggling. We asked them to do it live but they didn't do it in the spirit. Villians don't use drugs. There is a need to take the drugs. What? To take the drugs. At least they are there. They don't know me. Because I can't stand them. I have to do it. But they are there. They are there. But they are not there. They are not here. They are here. So I have to fight them. At least I am level. I have to fight them. Because I say I have to fight them. Because when you fight them. And what do you receive from them? I receive passionate. Most of the time I say I am a farmer, I touch what I receive from them. When I say I am a farmer, I receive billions of money. I don't have any money. It's only 100,000. I get 1 million out of 1 billion of money. I am a farmer, I am a farmer. But when I go out and eat, I get 99% of what I receive from them. When I go out and eat, I get very innocent. Very innocent. There are people like me who have been in jail for 2-3 months. But I have been in jail for 2 years. In prison, I have been in jail for 2 years. I have been in jail for 2 years. I have been in jail for 2 years. At least the government and the media believe I am a criminal. The media in jail believe I am a criminal. They believe I am a loafer. When I go out and eat, I get very innocent. No one can make a living out of it. I can't live in jail because I have the power to do my job. home but we are always looking for a place to be painful because freedom always in one's head. Always looking for a place to be. So not to go and be what one has a path to do so. Yeah. Washer, I'm a part of a full-inspiration ministry. Okay, me money is sick or come to and out of sana but Facebook, as you John Schomba. Maybe that is 0726956197, 0726956197. Thank you very much.