"We heavily depended on our family business to earn a living and put food on the table for my family of eight. Recently the business has been performing poorly making our life unbearable. A year ago many people invested in water transport services and this never worked well for us. Our boat registered a low number of customers and this made life difficult for us. I am elderly and this limits my ability to work and provide an alternative source of family income. I am also struggling to pay school fees for my grandson Luis Kemboi who is schooling in Moi Kabartonjo secondary school."

"I am currently building a new house for my family, as the one we live in now is so rundown and unsafe that I feel as if I am practically sleeping outside. It is even on the verge of collapsing. To make this new home a reality, I have been using a portion of my previous transfers to buy building materials. My goal for the coming year and beyond is to keep investing part of my transfers from GiveDirectly toward buying more materials until the house is fully completed. Once we are able to move in, I will feel a huge sense of relief, no longer worrying about the house falling down on us. Afterward, I plan to use another portion of the transfers to buy goats and chicken, hoping they will multiply over time, creating a sustainable resource that I can rely on to support my family in the future. I am incredibly grateful for this support and looking forward to better days ahead."

"Prolonged period of drought is making our life harder. I have four livestock which is taken care of by my grandfather who lives far away from the village. They cannot survive here as there is no grass to graze them due to drought. On average, we get rainfall at least 3 times a year which is extremely low and literally nothing can grow here apart from cactus. We are therefore, forced to buy milk for domestic use which is expensive. Buying a litre of milk at KES 50 saddens me keeping in mind of other domestic recurrent expenditures yet I could have taken care of my cattle here."

"GiveDirectly support enabled me to enroll at Mnazi Mwenga Secondary School, a long-held dream of mine. The school fees are manageable, and the teachers are exceptionally understanding. I discussed my situation with our school bazaar and informed him that I would be paying in installments. He agreed, which has allowed me to continue my education. Although life has been challenging at times and I’ve felt hopeless, GiveDirectly has restored my optimism. My aim in the coming year and beyond is to complete my studies and become the first person in my family to finish Secondary school. I pray to God for the chance to advance to college, graduate, secure a good job, and improve my family's living conditions, while also dreaming of building a spacious house for us all, despite currently living in a two small roomed house with my eight siblings."

"I depend on keeping livestock to sustain my family of 6. Last year at the height of a prolonged drought, I lost about ten of my sheep before I sold the remaining fifteen for a throw away price. Without a firm footing to further support my family, we have slept hungry some of the days while my children have not had all the necessary requirements in school due to this lack of finances."

"In the upcoming year, I initially planned to buy a motorbike. However, I've encountered some difficulties saving enough money, especially since I need to pay my school fees as a third-form secondary school student. So, I’ve decided to shift my focus. Instead, I’m looking into starting a grocery business and will hire someone at a small fee to manage it while I’m at school. I believe that the earnings from this venture will eventually help me purchase that motorbike in the future. Since I’m still studying and almost finished with my secondary education, having someone oversee the business seems like the wisest choice for now. I’m truly grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support, which has made it easier for me to attend school and pursue my future plans."

"Shop business has been our main source of income for some years. Currently, the business is not performing well. Our sales per day have diminished a lot leading to low profits. This has affected our ability to provide food or even other necessities for our children. The economy has become really difficult and most customers no longer have their initial purchasing power."

"When I received my third transfer, I decided to invest it in farming by planting beans. I chose beans because they require less water, making them a practical option for my situation. Farming has always been my passion, and I know it will help me immediately by providing food for my family. Furthermore, I can sell some of the produce to generate income, which will allow me to pay for my children's school fees. This plan not only ensures we have enough food at home but also supports my children's education. I truly believe that focusing on farming will create a better future for us all."

"The moment I received the cash transfer, I felt a wave of hope wash over me. My previous toilet had been destroyed by floods, leaving my family without a proper place to go, and I knew I needed to act quickly. So, I used $250 to construct a pit latrine. It was not just about having a toilet; it was also for the dignity of my family and the comfort of our visitors. I could finally welcome guests without feeling embarrassed about our situation. Furthermore, I managed to pay $50 for my children's school fees with the help of my husband, who is a police officer. Education is crucial for our children’s future, and this payment lifted a significant weight off my shoulders. I also spent $60 on a new mattress, as the old one was in terrible condition. Sleeping without proper support had taken a toll on my health and well-being, and now I could finally rest comfortably at night.Lastly, I allocated $90 to buy food. Before the transfer, we relied solely on farming, but the floods had submerged our maize, causing us great losses. Life was difficult, and we often struggled to make ends meet. Now, with this support, I could provide my family with proper meals and focus on rebuilding our lives. This cash transfer has truly transformed our situation, giving us the security and stability we desperately needed."

"The moment I received the money was a turning point for me. It came in the morning at around 5 AM while I was still sleeping. Suddenly, I heard a message on my phone and, when I checked, I saw that I had received the money. I was overjoyed to confirm that GiveDirectly had kept its promise of sending us free money. I couldn't go back to sleep; my mind was racing with thoughts on how to use this money wisely. By 6 AM, I was already thinking about my child at university, who needed to pay rent. The landlord was threatening to evict him, which had been a huge source of stress for me. Knowing I could help him immediately filled me with relief and happiness."