His father was Mihály Kendi, brother of voivode Ferenc Kendi and Antal Kendi who were executed by Isabella Jagiellon in 1558. His mother was Mihály's first or second wife. Sándor Kendi married twice: his wives were Klára Patóchi and Anna Almádi. He had four children:
He started his work at the Transylvanian Chancellery in 1565. He became secretary of the Chancellery in 1568. He served as envoy of John Sigismund Zápolya to Emperor Maximilian I from 1570 to 1572. The Emperor arrested him and refused to return for a year. Returning to home he became a supporter of PrinceStephen Báthory. Ha made several contacts with the Ottoman Porte since 1572, during the uprisings of Gáspár Bekes. Kendi was appointed a member of the Royal Council in 1573. He held that position until his execution. He served as Lord Lieutenant Inner Szolnok County between 1578 and 1591. He also functioned as Treasurer along with János Gálffy from 1578 to 1581. Stephen Báthory dissolved the Council of Twelve and established a three-member Regent Council besides the underage Sigismund Báthory, Voivode of Transylvania since 1581. Sándor Kendi was appointed Governor along with his son-in-law, Farkas Kovacsóczy and László Sombori, who also member of the Royal Council. After the resignation of Governor János Ghyczy he was elected councilor besides the older Sigismund Báthory however the new prince did not accept that and overshadowed him. Kendi retired from the politics for a time. He openly opposed the foreign policy of Sigismund in 1594 who turned against the Turks, his overlord. Kendi considered dangerous for the independence of Transylvania that Sigismund allied with the Habsburg-dominated Kingdom of Hungary. Later his fears came true. He clarified his standpoint at the Transylvanian Diet on 17 August 1594, but the majority opted for turning against the Ottoman Empire. The prince enraged for his group's activities in the field as a result Kendi, among others, was arrested. Later the opposition magnates were executed without any trial, including Sándor Kendi, his brother Ferenc Kendi, his cousin Gábor Kendi, Balthasar Báthory and Farkas Kovacsóczy.
