Mercy Masika’s daughter to Betty: What happened to your skin?

Gospel star Mercy Masika’s daughter, Ranice, got curious and asked K24 TV host Betty Kyallo the cause of a conspicuous scar on the news anchor’s neck.

Betty Kyallo had joined the artiste and her children, Ranice and Tavita, for lunch as they shot the popular Up-Close with Betty show.

As the programme host engaged in a conversation with the Masikas, the musician’s young daughter, Ranice, looked at Betty’s neck and gathered the courage to inquire what was responsible for the scar.

“People ask me that question quite often,” Betty told Ranice.

“I was involved in a road accident. There was a huge matatu that ran over me. That happened, but I healed. It left me with a scar, but I call it a jewel because it kind of shows me where I came from,” Betty told the young girl, who seemingly had more follow-up questions in mind, but chose to express satisfaction at that simple and brief response.

In December, 2018, Betty Kyallo took to Instagram to -- comprehensively -- reveal what led to her having the scar on her neck.

“So, I was walking in town and crossing the road, and this matatu comes and hits me hapo Railways. I got trapped under the matatu and it’s still moving," she said via the Instagram Stories feature.

"The left part of my face got scraped off by the road, so I was white from the shoulder to the face. So, my skin is gone, at 17 years old, my dream of becoming a news anchor also gone, because I knew they will not allow you on air with no skin.

Betty revealed that she was hospitalised for two months after the accident, and underwent seven surgeries.

“Apart from the face, I lost four ribs, my jaw got broken, my lungs collapsed, I was in a really bad state. So, two months later, I walked out of hospital but my skin was still peeled off. For about like four months, I was scared of walking on the streets because everybody could look at me and feel sorry for me. So, I would go to tao with a kitambaa covering my face. But with time I gained confidence. So, one time while at school showering, I discovered a dark thing on my face and I realised my skin was growing back,” she said.

“So slowly by slowly, my skin started to grow back, and after a year, the skin was back. The scar on my neck was too deep and that’s why I still have it. For a very long time even after I went on-air, I used to wear high-collared shirts to cover my scar coz I was insecure about them. Until one time I was like am gonna, you know what, I almost lost my life, what am I hiding? Coz this is jewellery.

“I wear my scar as a jewellery. I never hide my scars and I love it because it reminds me of where I came from. And that’s the story behind my scars. Just to encourage someone, wear that scar and let it inspire someone else. Learn from it don’t let it break you,” said Betty Kyallo.

-Back to the Masika interview-

The gospel artiste told the TV host that besides God, her family is the second-most important thing in her life.

“I have a very supportive husband. David [Muguro] is always there, helping me. We have worked together, so we kind of grew together. God first, then family,” she said.

The Mwema hit-maker said it breaks her heart when her fans meet her in the company of her children, but, out of excitement in seeing her, they fail to greet her daughter and son, leaving the young ones feeling ignored.

“Fans forget that when they are saying hi to me, sometimes I am in the company of people really important to me. When they greet me, and ignore the kids, they feel bad. It is important when you are saying hi to the people you like, please notice the other people around them, they are not trees,” said Mercy Masika.

The gospel star’s daughter, Ranice, recounted experiences, when she was “ignored” by her mother’s fans.

“They see my mum, they don’t even look at us. They only say hi to my mum, hata sisi hatusalimiwi,” said Ranice.

-MCSK royalties scandal-

Mercy Masika, during the interview, revealed that just like other aggrieved musicians in Kenya, she too received Ksh2, 530 from the music copyright agency, MCSK, in mid-August, 2019.

“Until that day, it had been four years, and I had never gotten any royalty. For all those four years that Mwema was being played everywhere, it has only been worth Ksh2, 500. Can you imagine? That is unfair. My desire is to see the system straight so that artistes can get what they deserve,” said Mercy Masika.

Her advice to her fans…

“Keep life simple, and it becomes simpler when you learn to trust God. You do not need to prove a point to anybody, you do not need to dress up to show anybody anything. Live life every day at a time.”