Sanaipei Tande on job loss, rebuilding her career

Sanaipei Tande. [Courtesy]

Sanaipei Tande has graced our radios and playlists for more than 15 years, but it has not always been smooth sailing.

In an interview with writer Bikozulu, the singer, songwriter and karaoke host opened up about losing her job as a media personality in 2015 and the tough times that followed.

“I was working as a radio presenter. I had taken a week off some time in August. When I resumed work, I found that people were stressed- some were biting their nails and others having private conversations like ‘what are we going to do?’ and I wondered what was happening,” Sanaipei said.

The media personality then narrated how it did not come as such a shock; she and her colleagues had heard rumours of a looming downsizing.

“My show was a mid-morning show, running from 10am to 2pm. I got a message from the General Manager at 1 o’clock, asking me to see him after my show,” she added.

Sanaipei Tande. [Courtesy]

The singer went on to describe the tense moment when she was told that her services were no longer required, lightheartedly looking back at the awkward, yet stressful encounter.

“I got into the boardroom, and there he was, together with someone from accounts as well as a HR manager. And so I was given and told, ‘here is your letter, here is your cheque- don’t come tomorrow’…” she said.

The celebrated singer then walked through a time when she struggled to make ends meet and pay her rent.

She revealed that her rent was Sh55,000 at the time. Her back-up plan, hosting Karaoke nights, only earned her between Sh10,000 and Sh12,000.

“I worked at three clubs in town and at one point in a specific one along Moi Avenue. And I remember it was terrifying. Working karaoke between 8pm to midnight, you’ve parked your car downstairs. I had to peep from the balcony to see if it was safe to go out to my car every time, because there were street men who would hover in the area,” Sanaipei said.

“In 2016 November, I realised that I had to move back home. At this moment in time when things had hit the fan and I needed support, I wasn’t embarrassed. It was a situation where I had no money to pay rent, and one of my best options was to go home,” the singer said.

The 'Najuta' singer then revealed how she dealt with the difficult time, going through the motions and rebuilding her career a step at a time.

“While living at home I continued hosting Karaoke, while sleeping at a lodging. I would get to the lodging, park my car outside there and break down, wondering how my life had got there - sleeping in a lodging earning Sh10,000 after insults and disrespect,” she said in an emotional moment.

Sanaipei Tande. [Courtesy]

The singer then narrated how she pulled through adversity, adding another title to her resume- actress.

“In 2017, I started acting on a show called 'Aziza', a role for which I had been approached in 2016.

Earning again, I was able to move back to the same apartment complex as I continued to build my own house,” Sanaipei said, the interview brightening up.

Now, the actress says, that the progress in her house-building over the last two years is a lot more than she ever did in six years.

Sanaipei rose to the limelight through Coca-Cola Popstars talent search in 2004 at just 19 years old.