Sanaipei Tande Puts CS Namwamba On The Spot Over Unpaid Ksh7.8 Million

Celebrated musician, actor and media personality Natasha Sanaipei Tande is demanding that Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba addresses the outstanding Ksh200,000 prize money promised to her and other accomplished winners of the 12th edition of the Kalasha International Film and TV Awards held on December 3, 2022.

A year passed since the awards took place, intending to award Ksh200,000 to the winners of each of the 39 categories, totalling Ksh7.8 million.

Despite these intentions and the commitment made by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the Kenya Film Commission (KFC), the winners have not received a single cent of their promised prize money, a matter which has left many of them frustrated and wondering why their hard-earned accolades have yet to be financially acknowledged.

Tande, known for songs such as Mfalme wa Mapenzi, Najuta, and Ankula Huu among others, took to social media on Wednesday, December 6 to bemoan the lack of communication from KFC as well as the Kalasha Awards organisers.

She put Namwamba to task on the same as he was also in charge of the Youth Affairs docket at the time the awards were held.

"1 year later no prize money and no communication on the same from Kenya Film Commission Kalasha Kenya or Ababu Namwamba," she stated in part.

Known popularly as Sana, Tande also slammed a decision by the Ministry of Sports to allocate a renovation tender of Ksh167 million to a bidder to uplift the Kenya National Theatre, which was closed temporarily in November for the next six months, with the facility expected to reopen in April 2024.

"167M set aside for #KNT renovations in bids to develop and nurture NEW talent! What of the existing talent?" she posed.

Michael Pundo, KNT's Chief Executive Officer, had urged theatre enthusiasts to utilize other spaces, such as the Cheche Gallery, Ukumbi Mdogo, and Wasanii Corner, for training and performances.

Namwamba, Kenya Film Commission CEO Timothy Owese and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna were among the guests and celebrities who graced the event last year.

Tande bagged the award for Best Lead Actress in the awards through her role in the TV series Kina.

Meanwhile, she is set to release her latest song, “M.I.A,” on Friday, December 8.

Produced by Universal Music Group, the track promises to be a captivating addition to her discography and holds a poignant significance for her, as it follows the recent loss of her father, Manasseh Lemaiyian Tande, on October 13.

Sanaipei Tande posing for a photo. /SANAIPEI TANDE