Living in a small, grass-thatched house with muddy walls has been tough, especially when it leaks during the rainy season. After being displaced by floods, my family and I had to relocate and settle in a temporary house because we didn't own the land. However, through hard work and determination, I managed to buy a quarter-acre of land with the dream of building our own home. Now, I am planning to use my final transfer from GiveDirectly, I am excited to begin constructing a better, more secure house for my family. This new home will provide us with a more comfortable living environment.

What touched me about GiveDirectly’s approach was the unconditional cash transfer, which has greatly benefited my family. This flexibility has had a positive impact, sparking numerous changes and developments within our community, including new houses, new businesses, increased livestock, and enhanced farming activities. The officers from GiveDirectly were respectful and patient, which made me feel valued and respected. Their fair and free enrollment process enhanced equity, and impressively, there was no political involvement, which is quite rare. I chose to enroll with GiveDirectly willingly after their officers explained everything about the organization in detail before enrollment. I hope GiveDirectly continues with this same approach, as it has greatly benefited our community and has been a great experience for all of us involved.

With the final transfer I received, I made a strategic decision to invest in livestock to secure a more sustainable future for my family. I bought a cow for $250, primarily to provide us with milk, which is essential for my young children as they are at a high risk of malnutrition. The cow will not only cater to our immediate needs but, as it breeds, I plan to sell them in the future to cover school fees for my children. Additionally, I invested in two more goats, costing $50 each, adding to the three I previously acquired. Goats thrive in our harsh climatic conditions and their quick multiplication will allow me to sell some for extra income, which I'll use to pay for school fees and meet other family needs. My focus remains steadfast on my children’s education and ensuring they can continue their studies without financial hindrance. I never had the opportunity to attend school due to security issues and financial constraints, which eventually led to my reliance on casual jobs and charcoal production alongside my wife-an unsustainable means for our family of six. To further alleviate our situation, I also purchased two bags of maize for $90 to help address our immediate food shortages. I am deeply thankful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has been instrumental in these investments and in planning a brighter future for my children.

Receiving a message after an alert filled me with immense joy, and upon checking, I instantly recognized it as being from GiveDirectly when I saw the exact amount I had been expecting. At the time, I was at home alone around 3:00 PM. Despite my excitement; being alone meant I could not share the news with my children right away since they were not at home yet. I spent the day carefully planning, and the following day, I collected the funds to set my plans going. This moment marked not only a financial boost but also a hopeful step toward realizing the goals I had planned.

Since I received the first transfer from GiveDirectly, the biggest difference in my daily life revolves around achieving family stability across various aspects. Previously, the struggles in securing casual labor, which was crucial for buying daily necessities for my family of five, have significantly reduced. This transformation is evident in the assurance that I now have enough food for my children, allowing me to focus on my goat farming without the constant worry about their well-being. Consequently, my children are well-fed and dressed appropriately, and their education is progressing positively. The financial relief from the initial transfer has not only mitigated the challenges of daily survival but has also fostered an environment of stability and well-being within my family.

After returning from my initial home due to tribal conflicts between the Pokot and Tugen, I found myself alone, caring for my four children as my wife left to remarry a year later. When I received the recent transfer, I promptly went to the nearby shopping center, Marigat, to collect the money. I invested $110 in buying two goats, adding to my existing herd of 17, aiming to rebuild my livestock assets that were significantly reduced during the conflicts. To sustain my family, I spent $45 on purchasing foodstuff, particularly a sack of maize. Allocating $10, I bought clothes for three of my four children, and the other $3 covered school fees arrears for the fourth child who never got a pair of new clothes. Formerly reliant on unreliable casual labor, which often led to selling goats for income, I am pleased to stabilize my finances. With aspirations to construct a new house, I initiated the process by hiring labor for $40 to dig the foundation. My current grass-thatched house motivates me to improve our living conditions, and I am grateful for the support, looking forward to further enhancements for my family's well-being.