Legendary singer-cum-actress Sanaipei Tande has called out Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba for failing to honor a monetary promise he made over a year ago at the 2022 Kalasha Awards.

While taking to her X (formerly Twitter) handle, Tande publicly wondered what happened to the monies she and her fellow winners were promised by the CS right after winning in various categories in the last instalment of the popular film awards.

The 'Amina' hitmaker also dragged the Kenya Film Commission into her lamentations, wondering what was being done to appreciate 'existing' talent yet the Kenya National Theatre had been closed for multi-million shillings renovations meant to appreciate 'new' talent. 

"1 year later no prize money and no communication on the same from @kenyafilmcomm @KalashaKenya or @AbabuNamwamba but 167M set aside for #KNT renovations in bids to develop and nurture NEW talent! What of the existing talent?" she wrote.

Sanaipei Tande clinched the Kalasha award for Best Lead Actress in a TV Drama (Kina). 

Winners of the 2022 Kalasha Awards were initially set to receive a minimum prize money of Ksh.100,000 each, based on previous award amounts. However, CS Ababu, while speaking at the event, pledged to double the prize money.

The Kenya Film Commission (KFC) introduced the awarding scheme during the 9th edition in 2019, with a total of Sh1.7 million disbursed as prize money.

Kenya National Theatre (KNT) on the other hand is scheduled to reopen in 2024 after renovations. Michael Pundo, KNT's Chief Executive Officer, encouraged theatre enthusiasts to utilize alternative spaces like the Cheche Gallery, Ukumbi Mdogo, and Wasanii Corner for training and performances. 

In addition to the closure, CS Ababu further appointed a new board of members consisting of 12 individuals who will oversee the operations of the theatre over the next two years.

During the presentations of the letters of appointment to the new board, the CS clarified that the renovations were necessary to elevate the standards of the facility as it was set to boost the ministry's quest to 'identify, nurture, and monetise' talents.