SANAIPEI TANDE TALKS GOING BROKE AND MOVING BACK HOME

Celebrated Kenyan singer Sanaipei Tande opened up on how her life took an unexpected turn, compelling her to make the challenging decision of moving back home.

Speaking on Engage Talk, Sanaipei said things took a dark turn after she lost her job at Nation FM, “In 2013 I landed a job with Nation FM to co-host the drive show with Edward Kwach then moved on to presenting mid-morning show. At the time, the station was struggling and there was no direction. While I was there they had two mass layoffs and I was caught in the third one, myself and 41 other people were fired on that day.” 

Tande started hosting karaoke gigs, but could not afford to pay rent for her 2 bedroom apartment, “I was thrown back to struggle for survival, the one thing that I could do is Karaoke so I went back to that but this time the were a lot of mistreatment and man handling from customers. Sometimes you would finish and won’t get paid, you are leaving there empty handed going to your empty tank car.”

“I did it for a whole year in 2015 to 2016 and I realised I could not sustain my lifestyle. I lived in Westlands in a 2-bedroomed house and it wasn’t working out. I decided to pack my things and go back to my parents home, I remember sharing it with my friends and one said, ‘you are going backwards in life, why don’t you find someone to pay your rent and bills.’ I was offended, it was painful, especially when you are expecting to get support,” she added.

Despite facing financial setbacks, she found strength in her passion for music and was able to build her house, “I went home and I was welcomed with open arms. I still had to host karaoke, very many times I would finish my karaoke and drive back and really cry in my car. I would ask myself why I was there and try to find somebody to blame. I’m happy that I went through ups and downs and picked myself up today. I can happily say I have built my own house.”