Singer Sanaipei Tande has narrated how losing her job at the Nation Media Group left her desolate and almost homeless. Speaking to Biko Zulu, Sanaipei narrated that at the time she was fired from Nation FM, she was living in a house that cost her Sh. 55,000 per month. After losing her job, she found herself struggling to get karaoke gigs which paid Sh. 10,000 to Sh. 13,000. This meant that she couldn’t afford to pay. At one point, Sanaipei Tande slept in lodgings. Sanaipei worked at Nation FM between 2013 and 2015. Here is what she said:

“I got a message from the GM to see him after my show and I knew it is bad news. I had heard stories that there was retrenchment. I was told, here is your letter, here is your cheque, don’t come tomorrow. That’s how my job at Nation ended.

The house I was living in was 55k and at that time I was only earning 10-13k on karaoke. It was not an easy job working in clubs at night. It was terrifying working in one bar in town. I had to go to the balcony and check how safe it was to go back to my car. Some clients were rude, others could refuse to pay me. There was a lot of abuse. That same money, I was sending some to my parents at home.

Equity: DP Ruto lied! We don’t know Aydin, didn’t give Sh. 15 billion loan

My parents gave me the courage to go back home. I wasn’t embarrassed since I didn’t have the money to pay rent. While sleeping in lodgings, I used to park my car outside and just break down as I asked myself; ‘How did I get here, sleeping in a lodging after earning 10k with all this abuse?’

My family helped me in building my confidence. My brother has been my greatest supporter and although I have made mistakes in life they have always corrected me in the right way.”