"Even though I have done a course in catering, I have been unable to secure a job and this has made our lives difficult. Since the year 2019 after college, I have been unemployed and I opted for construction work as a casual laborer. After working working for 2 years, I got injured on the site and again changed to fishing. Many people in our area have ventured into fishing making it less lucrative. The returns from it unpredictable depending on the number of fish you get in a day. One can get up to KES 200 a day but on average, it is approximately KES 400. The cash is inadequate to cater to a family of 4; one is a school going child."

"Currently because of my old age I'm facing a lot of challenges. One of the main challenges I'm facing is getting money to provide for my family since I don't have enough energy to do casual work. I have been forced to sell part of my livestock in order to provide for them and also pay school fees for my granddaughter Jepchirchir."

"Their staff came to visit us to understand our living conditions, which made me feel seen and valued. They didn’t send middlemen; instead, they came themselves, which built trust right from the start. Throughout the process, they spoke to us with kindness and respect—there was no harassment or pressure, just clear communication. They explained everything thoroughly, so I knew exactly what to expect and how the funds would come. Even after receiving the money, GiveDirectly didn’t forget about us. They followed up to check how we were doing, ensuring we were managing well and finding out if the support made a difference. Honestly, I wouldn’t change anything about how they operate—they’ve done everything right. Their approach was transparent, respectful, and effective, which makes all the difference for people like us who rarely experience such direct and dignified support."

"Educating my six children has always been a challenge, as I don’t have a stable source of income that would allow me to cover their fees on time. For years, I relied on burning and selling charcoal to make a living, but this has never provided the consistent earnings I needed. Often, I found myself struggling with large fee arrears, which became an uphill task to manage and put my children at risk of being sent home. Receiving my first transfer brought immense relief. I immediately used $270 to clear the fees owed, allowing all my children to stay in school without the fear of interruptions. In addition, our home had been in need of urgent repairs; the roof had grown old and weak, and it leaked heavily during rains, soaking our belongings. With so much of my income going toward fees, I couldn’t afford to fix it. I am at peace now because I also used $210 of the transfer to purchase 14 iron sheets and new poles to repair the roof, making our home sturdy and comfortable once again. To support my family’s daily needs, I also run a small vegetable business in the village. I reinvested $30 of the transfer into new stock, hoping this boost will increase my earnings over time. Finally, I used the remaining funds to buy food essentials, including a bag of maize that will last us a month, ensuring my family has enough to eat each day."

"Educating my six children has always been a challenge, as I don’t have a stable source of income that would allow me to cover their fees on time. For years, I relied on burning and selling charcoal to make a living, but this has never provided the consistent earnings I needed. Often, I found myself struggling with large fee arrears, which became an uphill task to manage and put my children at risk of being sent home. Receiving my first transfer brought immense relief. I immediately used $270 to clear the fees owed, allowing all my children to stay in school without the fear of interruptions. In addition, our home had been in need of urgent repairs; the roof had grown old and weak, and it leaked heavily during rains, soaking our belongings. With so much of my income going toward fees, I couldn’t afford to fix it. I am at peace now because I also used $210 of the transfer to purchase 14 iron sheets and new poles to repair the roof, making our home sturdy and comfortable once again. To support my family’s daily needs, I also run a small vegetable business in the village. I reinvested $30 of the transfer into new stock, hoping this boost will increase my earnings over time. Finally, I used the remaining funds to buy food essentials, including a bag of maize that will last us a month, ensuring my family has enough to eat each day."

"Financial challenges are the biggest challenge. I sell tea and cakes to make a living and this earns me $ 2 a day. I hardly save any amount because i use all of it to purchase food and school utilities for my grandchildren. If I had a better source of income I would meet my needs comfortably."

"I have five school-aged children: one in secondary school and four in primary school. However, paying their fees has been our biggest challenge. My husband and I have relied on manual jobs, which barely allow us to afford daily meals, and sometimes we struggle even with that. As a result, my children haven't been able to attend school consistently; their fee arrears were so high that teachers would occasionally send them home. When I received some financial assistance, I immediately paid $130 to cover their school fees, which allowed them to return to class. I feel incredibly thankful to finally see them attending school regularly, just like their peers. Additionally, I used $38 to buy enough food for my family, as food insecurity has been another serious and persistent issue for us. With $380, I purchased iron sheets, building poles, and thread, and covered labor costs to construct a new house. I had been feeling displaced since our previous home was destroyed by heavy rains months ago, leaving my family homeless. My children had to stay with friends while I slept at my mother-in-law's house. This was a tough and humbling experience, especially since my children are growing up and need their own space and privacy. Now, we can finally move into our new home and start fresh. I am deeply grateful for this blessing."

"I have five school-aged children: one in secondary school and four in primary school. However, paying their fees has been our biggest challenge. My husband and I have relied on manual jobs, which barely allow us to afford daily meals, and sometimes we struggle even with that. As a result, my children haven't been able to attend school consistently; their fee arrears were so high that teachers would occasionally send them home. When I received some financial assistance, I immediately paid $130 to cover their school fees, which allowed them to return to class. I feel incredibly thankful to finally see them attending school regularly, just like their peers. Additionally, I used $38 to buy enough food for my family, as food insecurity has been another serious and persistent issue for us. With $380, I purchased iron sheets, building poles, and thread, and covered labor costs to construct a new house. I had been feeling displaced since our previous home was destroyed by heavy rains months ago, leaving my family homeless. My children had to stay with friends while I slept at my mother-in-law's house. This was a tough and humbling experience, especially since my children are growing up and need their own space and privacy. Now, we can finally move into our new home and start fresh. I am deeply grateful for this blessing."

"Since I got divorced about one year ago, life has been tasking both emotionally and mentally. I am currently employed as a taxi driver and the $2 I earn in a day would only cater for my food or decide to send the entire amount towards supporting my 2 children. Things were different when my ex wife was with me since she used to supplement my income from her casual jobs in the village."

"The transfer enabled us as villagers to pool our resources to bring a water source closer to our community, allowing each household the option to install their own water tap. Previously, we relied on buying water from a distant source, which was both costly and exhausting due to the long journey required to carry it back. To address this challenge, I decided to set aside a significant portion of my transfer, which I plan to use to install a tap, purchase a water meter, and cover installation costs. Having water readily available will greatly ease my household’s access to water for daily domestic needs. Moreover, it opens up an opportunity for me to sell water as an additional income source, which will be especially helpful for covering household expenses. Through our collective efforts, we are all looking forward to a future where water is no longer a daily struggle but a readily accessible resource in our community."