Renowned Kenyan singer and actress Sanaipei Tande, known for her powerful vocals and musical talents, has opened up about her experiences in two past relationships. The first ended with her partner asserting she lacked vision, while the second was marked by moments that left her feeling utterly devalued.
During her session on the Engage platform on Thursday, Sanaipei recounted her experiences with her initial two boyfriends, a period that spanned her late teenage years to her early twenties.
In her late teens, the ex-Nation FM presenter was on the cusp of stardom, gaining recognition as a member of the girl group 'Sema.'
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Their mesmerizing performance on the prestigious Coke Studio catapulted her into the limelight, making her the talk of the town.
Yet, Sanaipei confesses that she wasn't entirely ready for the whirlwind of fame that was about to sweep over her.
The transition into the life of a celebrity brought with it immense pressure and unforeseen responsibilities.
She recollects a time when, despite being a rising star, her first boyfriend, who was also in the music industry, chose to end their relationship. His rationale? He believed Sanaipei wasn't fully realizing her potential in life.
"I was thrown into a world I didn't fully understand, and interestingly, the guy I was dating who was in the music industry dumped me. He said I wasn't doing anything with my life," she reflects.
This abrupt breakup left her in a tough spot, facing bills to pay and no financial means to return to school. Driven by a determination to support herself, Sanaipei had to explore various avenues to generate income.
As she forged ahead, the challenges of young love continued to test her resilience. At the age of 20, she entered into another relationship, but even this one didn't unfold as she had hoped.
Sanaipei candidly shared about the emotional turmoil she experienced during this phase of her life.
"I got into a relationship with this guy for the better part of my twenties," she said. "I could share so many incidents that made me feel so useless, so worn out."
The 'Kina' actress shared anecdotes of moments that exposed the fragility of her relationship. For instance, she describes the time when her car broke down, and she found herself pushing it with street kids while her partner fiddled with the gas right in front of a crowd. Such incidents left her feeling unappreciated and powerless.
"There I was pushing a non-starting car with street kids as my dude tried to pump off the gas in full view of the club and revelers and everything.
"I've been abandoned asleep at a dead-end road by said dude after I confronted him after finding him in a situation. But it was my fault, that's why he left me in the car," she said.
Sanaipei also revealed moments where her partner would go out clubbing without her, only to return in the early hours with incoherent phone calls filled with declarations of love and expressions of missing her.
"The said dude would go out clubbing without me. And the only reason I would know is that I would get that slurred speech call early in the morning with declarations of I love you, I miss you, I can't wait to see you, bring chicken wings," she said.
She would faithfully bring him chicken wings, eager to nurture the relationship.
"I get to his home, say hello to the family, and up I go the stairs with the kitchen wings. I would stay maybe an hour or two," she said.
However, her affection was met with moments of confusion as her partner would question her presence, unaware that he had invited her.
"The guy wakes up na anashtuka and he's like why are you here? Did I call you? Don't feel bad for me, I did this very many times," she said.
Despite these challenging moments, she held onto the hope that love would ultimately triumph, and her partner would come to recognize her true worth.
"Love is a beautiful thing, and when you're in your twenties, love is everything," she explains, reflecting on the rollercoaster of emotions she experienced. "I was hopeful that this guy would see me, appreciate me, and treat me like the queen I was being told I was."
Sanaipei's last relationship was with Andrew Manga, a former musician and pilot, which lasted for six years. According to the 'Jali' hitmaker, she decided to end the relationship because she felt that she was not experiencing personal growth within it.
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