"Running our poultry and goat-rearing business here in Marigat has been quite the challenge. Despite the climate being perfect for our animals, expanding the venture has been hindered by financial limitations. With my husband's administrative police job and a family of seven relying on this income, the pressure is immense. Dealing with disease outbreaks is especially disheartening, often leading to premature sales and financial losses due to the inability to afford treatment."

"Water is a big problem in our village, we buy water from the nearby water shop for domestic use. This comes with another additional cost to my family. I am a casual labourer and what I earn is peanut. After budgeting what I receive from working, I am left with little money to buy my family enough clean water for domestic use. We end up limiting the use of water, some of us could even go for two days without taking bath. Our biggest part of the land is not arable, we end up buying food for the family which is costly. On average we spend about KES 400 on food a day. Comparing with my daily earning of KES 350, I have nothing to save and invest."

"It has been a tough journey for me lately. Five years ago, I inherited a piece of land from my parents, but I have never been able to cultivate it due to financial constraints. With seven children to support, I rely solely on charcoal burning to make ends meet. On a good month, I barely earn $50, which all goes towards putting food on the table. Sadly, there is never been any extra to save, let alone invest in farming inputs like seeds and fertilizers. It is disheartening that I cannot provide for my family through farming and instead have to depend on seasonal charcoal burning just to get by."

"Being responsible for overseeing the family, the farm, and the goats while my husband, Humphrey, is away teaching in the Mukutani ward is undoubtedly a draining task. It feels like a constant struggle to manage everything on my own, from household chores to tending to the farm and animals. I will admit, it can be exhausting and draining, especially with the added responsibility of looking after the children. The lack of financial resources makes it challenging to hire a helper, despite knowing how much it would ease the burden. Unfortunately, a previous attempt to employ assistance ended in frustration, with the helper demanding money before the month ended. It is a situation I cannot afford to repeat, given our reliance on Humphrey's support as a family of five."

"I'm a single parent and bear the responsibility of raising my five children without a reliable source of income. My children are still young and in lower levels of education, though some will soon be joining high school. Looking at my financial status, it might be difficult for me to raise fees when the time comes for them to join high school. To prepare for this, I plan to buy more livestock, particularly goats so that as they multiply, I can sell them to raise the fees for my children. With this plan, I am confident that my children's future is secure and they will be able to continue with their studies, despite my financial predicament. Currently, I have seven goats, and I expect their number to increase in the near future."

"I hope to expand my plot this year and do a great harvest next year"

"I hope to construct a plot in a plot i bought and start some agricultural business next year"

"Give directly did well in elgon region, I recommend the same process elsewhere."

"Receiving the transfer has brought about significant changes in my life. The acquisition of sheep through the transfer has renewed sense of optimism, knowing that they hold the potential to improve my life significantly. I plan to sell them in future, empowering me to invest in the proceeds from the sales in maize farming on my acre of land. I anticipate this venture will serve both commercial and domestic purposes, furthering our financial stability and well-being. Moreover, being able to purchase food has had a profound impact on my children's well-being, evident in the bright smiles that now adorn their faces, as they are now well fed unlike before when they used to survive with two meals daily. Their happiness brings me immeasurable joy, further increasing my own sense of fulfillment and satisfaction."

"With my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I decided to make sure we had enough food. So, I spent $80 on essential foodstuffs like maize, beans, and rice. Getting food on the table has always been a struggle, especially since my income comes from odd jobs here and there. It's just me and my grandchild at home, but I also try to help my son and his family living with us in the same compound. In addition, I bought 3 plastic chairs to save us from the old containers we have been using as chairs since we had none, costing $650 each. Moreover, I have an acre piece of land right near the river. I haven't farmed it in a while because money for capital has been a problem. Even when I could start something, the cost of keeping the crops healthy, like weeding, adding fertilizers, and even renting a generator was way beyond me hence losses. The last time I got any harvest from it was four years ago. But now, thanks to GiveDirectly. I've set aside $100 specifically for getting back into farming. I've already used $30 to clear the land, and the remaining $70 for plowing, furrowing, and planting my maize. There's a feeling of hope. I believe that this year, I'll harvest and sell the extra to support my family."