"Life had been a constant struggle, especially with my crops being destroyed by goats. I had always dreamed of having a safe farm where I could grow my food without worrying about animals getting in. So, I spent $420 to fence my home using barked and jailing wire. This investment was essential for protecting my farm and ensuring that my crops could grow freely without disturbance. It was a relief to finally know that my vegetables, which are my main source of food, would be safe from harm. Once I had fenced the farm, I used the remaining amount of money to buy new clothes. My old clothes were worn out and unsuitable for any occasion, so I felt it was time to invest in something better. As a single person, living alone, I had been managing on my own, cooking and taking care of everything. It felt good to finally have something new to wear, especially with the holidays approaching. Farming has been my main way of surviving, and it’s what keeps me going. I plant vegetables to ensure I have food to eat, and sometimes I sell a little to make some extra money. This cash transfer has made a huge difference in my life. It has helped me secure my farm and improve my living conditions, and I’m grateful for the support."

"Life has been a struggle, but this cash transfer has brought a sense of hope. I have always admired the idea of owning a cow, knowing it would provide milk for my family and generate income in case of emergencies. I decided to spend $200 to purchase one cow. This investment will not only improve our food security but also support my farming activities. I also used $250 for farming expenses, which included plowing, buying seeds, and purchasing a knapsack sprayer to maintain my crops.Watermelon has always been a crop I believed in, and I was eager to invest in it. I’m excited about the prospects of growing watermelons and selling them for a good income, which will help me support my family. I now feel more secure in my ability to take care of my four children and provide for them. This money has truly changed our lives.As farmers, my wife and I have faced many challenges, but with this support, we are beginning to see a brighter future. We are more hopeful about our farming and feel a greater sense of stability. This transfer has helped us invest in our land and livestock, and we are deeply grateful for the opportunity."

"GiveDirectly has been very reliable, and I appreciate that they always fulfill their promises. They do not lie or make false commitments, which has made me trust them even more. I really like how they follow up with us to make sure everything is going well and that we are using the money properly. This follow-up shows their dedication to helping us and ensuring the money is used for its intended purpose. From my experience, I did not notice anything bad about how they operate. Overall, I am grateful for their support, and everything has been handled well."

"I am truly grateful for the support I received, and I knew I had to give back to God, so I took $45 as a tithe at church to thank Him for His blessings. Farming has always been my source of livelihood, and with the unconditional cash transfer, I was able to invest $270 in preparing my farm. This included plowing, labor for preparation, tomato seeds, and vegetables. Farming not only helps me meet my family’s needs, but it also helps pay for my children’s school fees. Over the years, I’ve also used the income from farming to buy livestock such as goats and sheep, which I can sell for further investment or to support my business. The floods, however, caused a major setback. They destroyed my beans, goats, sheep, and even the maize in my store, leaving me devastated. Despite this, I didn’t give up, and with the remaining money, I spent $90 on food, ensuring my family had enough to eat. I also spent $40 on stocking my grocery business in town, which has started to grow. Before I had limited stock, making only $10 per day, but now with more stock, I am able to make $24 per day.Though life was hard after the floods, I feel a sense of relief and hope now that I am recovering. Thanks to GiveDirectly’s support, I have been able to rebuild my life and my business. I still have a long way to go, but I am optimistic that with hard work and God's blessings, I will continue to make progress. I am forever grateful for this opportunity."

"In the coming years, I want to accomplish stability for my family by investing in my farm. When God blesses me with a good harvest and I have a surplus, I plan to use that money to pay for my children's school fees. Education is very important to me, and I want to make sure my children get the best opportunities. I also aim to use the income to meet our basic needs, ensuring that we live comfortably without struggling. By focusing on farming, I believe I can build a sustainable future for my family. My goal is to improve our lives and provide for my children’s future through hard work and God's blessings."

"GiveDirectly has been very supportive, and I am grateful for their help. My plan is that when I receive my third transfer, I will invest in a poultry rearing business. I will use the money to buy chickens and start selling eggs and chickens to improve my life. This business will provide a steady income and help me pay for my children’s school fees, which is very important to me. I appreciate how GiveDirectly has helped me so far, as it has given me the chance to plan for my future. However, I would appreciate even more guidance on managing a business to ensure I make the most out of this opportunity."

"I appreciate how GiveDirectly follows up with us to ensure that we use the money correctly and invest it wisely. I also like the way they provided security through theft protection on M-Pesa and PIN numbers to keep our money safe. This attention to security made me feel more confident in how the funds were managed. Overall, GiveDirectly did everything right, and I did not notice anything wrong in the way they handled the process. They have been very supportive, and I feel grateful for the assistance. I am satisfied with the way GiveDirectly conducted everything."

"Life took a challenging turn for me and my family after floods destroyed our farm, washing away ripening vegetables, maize, and even the trees we relied on for burning charcoal. We were left with no food and a looming loan from Kenya Seed that financed the lost crops. It was a heartbreaking struggle, especially with two young children to care for. However, when I received the unconditional cash transfer, it felt like a ray of hope that finally allowed us to recover and rebuild. I carefully planned how to use the money to address both immediate needs and long-term stability for my family. With $150, I purchased three goats to secure a steady supply of milk for my children. Buying milk from the shop at $1 per liter was unsustainable and not even enough for them to drink daily. The goats will not only reduce our expenses but also provide future income through breeding. I also invested $155 in agriculture, buying a knapsack sprayer, vegetable seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and fuel to pump water from the river. I knew this investment in crop production would yield profits and help ensure we have enough food at home. To focus on farming without the constant worry of looking for food, I spent $58 on groceries, ensuring my family had enough to eat during this recovery phase. Additionally, I used $80 to buy clothes and shoes for my family, as we had no proper attire for outings or even daily needs. With the remaining $12, I purchased a large cooking pot, which was much needed for my growing family. Before the floods, life was tough, with casual jobs and farming barely sustaining us. Now, thanks to the transfer, I feel hopeful and more stable. My family has food, plans for future income through farming and livestock, and a chance to rebuild a better life."

"Insufficient funds and cash to run our daily expenses are making our lives harder. I am a housewife, and my husband is a water vendor in the village, earning an approximate wage of KES 200 a day. Because we are living in a hard economic time, that cash is hardly enough to run a family of 4. Moreover, getting customers has become hard, unlike before, because many people have ventured into the same business, and thus, the market is flooded. To realize our dream, we intend to repair our motorcycle to use in vending water and increase our income. Give Directly's cash will catapult our dream and I am glad to be among the beneficiaries of the same."

"In the coming year and beyond, I plan to focus on building a better house for my family. I also want to boost my wife’s business, as it plays a crucial role in providing food for our family while I focus on other responsibilities. My current house is made of mud, and the walls have become weak over time. It is risky to stay there, as we fear it could collapse during a heavy downpour or strong winds. Unfortunately, we do not have an alternative at the moment, so we continue to live there. To achieve this goal, I plan to use part of my daily income from my motorbike taxi business, combined with my GiveDirectly income, to buy building materials. This time, I want to build a solid house with stone walls, as stones are easily accessible in our area. Once the house is complete, I will focus on expanding my wife’s business by adding more items and increasing the quantity of existing goods, ensuring she has enough stock to attract more customers."