Sanaipei Tande opens up on how Nairobi bishop contributed to 'Sema' music group split

Musician-cum-actress Sanaipei Tande has opened up on the intricacies that surrounded the 2005 split of her former music group Sema.

Sana, as she is popularly known, said bad guidance was the primary reason why the group, that was formed in 2004 consisting of Pam Waithaka, Kevin Waweru and herself, broke up.

The group became popular after winning the Coca Cola Pop Stars talent search in 2004, however, was only in existence for 6 months and released one album before the stars went their separate ways.

Sana said that at the time, Sema was under Homeboyz management and they did not get the advice they needed, especially given that they were also so young.

 “Kuna mambo mengi sana yalichangia kwa kipindi cha Sema kuwa in existence only for 6 months alafu tukaachana. Kwa hii sector ya entertainment inataka mwongozo, bila mwongozo hapo unaweza kupotea,” she said.

"Ni kazi ambayo utaweza kuongozwa na wazazi wako kutoka nyumbani lakini pia katika ile industry lazima kuwe na mtu, kama tuseme angekuwa mtu wa Homeboyz ambaye anatuongoza and we didn’t have that, on top of the fact tulikuwa wachanga.”

The musician talked about a bishop, whose name she did not mention, who had a church at a popular Nairobi hotel and who wanted to take over the group from Homeboyz and fly them for a trip abroad.

However, both Sana and her father did not agree to this because Homeboys at the time said it would not take responsibility of the group during the trip.

“Kulikuwa na bishop alikuwa na church 680, first he wanted to take Sema away from Homeboyz na alikuwa ametupangia trip ya kwenda Netherlands lakini mimi nilikataa kwenda. Maanake Homeboyz waliandika barua na kusema we will not take any responsibility for anything that happens during the trip,” she recalled during the Churchill Show interview.

Sanaipei said the deal went flat when her father learnt that the said bishop called her at 2am in the pretense of discussing business, which her father saw as suspicious behavior.

“Aliponipigia siku moja saa nane asubuhi, nakumbuka vizuri babangu alikuwa anawatch news. Nikaenda nikakaa chini na babangu na akasema ‘Nope! A man of that age who wants to discuss business to call you at 2 o’clock in the morning, is not a good person.’ Na iyo story ikaisha ivo, na wenzangu wakajiunga na band ya huyo bishop ambayo alikuwa nayo pale 680 Hotel,” narrated the ‘Mdaka mdakiwa’ hitmaker..

Sanaipei also said she is not close to and has not talked to the other group members; Pam and Kevin, in a very long time.

“Kevin sijamwona kwa muda mrefu sana alafu Pam tulikuja tukaishi kwa compound moja pale Westlands, hatukuongea sana, mara moja moja tu, kisha akahama na mimi nikahama na hatujaongea tena,” she stated.

Sanaipei has since found a new career in acting and is already making waves in the industry with popular Kenyan shows such as Varshita, Aziza and Kina.