Sanaipei Tande Questions Silence Over Unpaid Kalasha Award Prize Money

Actress and singer Sanaipei Tande has expressed frustration at the lack of communication and delayed payment of her Kalasha Award prize money. Tande won the Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama award (Kina) at the 2022 ceremony, which came with a promised cash prize of Sh200,000 from Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.

However, several months have passed and Tande has yet to receive the promised funds. She has also received no explanation or communication from either the Kenya Film Commission (KFC) or the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage led by CS Namwamba.

This lack of transparency and apparent disregard for existing talent raises concerns, especially considering the recent allocation of Sh167 million towards renovations at the Kenya National Theatre (KNT) aimed at nurturing new talent.

“1 year later, no prize money and no communication on the same from The Kenya Film Commission or Ababu Namwamba, but 167M set aside for #KNT renovations in bids to develop and nurture NEW talent! What about the existing talent?” Tande questioned publicly.

This issue highlights the disconnect between promises made and actions taken. Emerging talent deserves support, but neglecting existing award-winning individuals like Tande sets a discouraging precedent.

Originally, the minimum prize money for Kalasha Award winners was set at Sh100,000, but CS Namwamba had pledged to double this amount for the 2022 awards. However, this promise remains unfulfilled.

The KFC introduced the award scheme in 2019, disbursing a total of Sh1.7 million in prize money. It is unclear why there has been such a significant delay and lack of communication regarding Tande’s case.

While KNT undergoes renovations and aims to reopen in 2024, the question remains: how can existing talent be supported and encouraged if promises made to them are not kept? CS Ababu’s appointment of a new board for KNT and his stated goal of nurturing talent seem inconsistent with the current situation faced by Sanaipei Tande.

The government needs to address Tande’s concerns and ensure that promised rewards are delivered promptly and transparently. It is crucial to prioritize and support both existing and emerging talents to create a thriving arts and culture industry in Kenya.