"Since my late husband died, I have been really struggling to fend for my children. I used to depend on him for everything. I am not formally employed, and even the little business I engage on has also gone down. I am a charcoal seller, and with the drought that has ravaged our region, even trees have become scarce. Putting food on the table and meeting other basic needs is becoming a pipe dream. I am also obliged to pay school fees for my last born son, which has put me in continuous and vicious cycle of debts. So, the biggest problem that I have ever faced is the dependency ratio in me and the unemployment problem."

"I have been yearning to sleep in a decent house for so many years but because of the financial constraints, I couldn't afford to buy the necessary materials. Therefore after receiving the money, I had to fulfill the dream. I bought materials like iron sheets for $90, building poles at $56, nails and timber at $34 respectively. In addition to that, I gave the mason $90 as his labor charge. I then cleared hospital bills for my two sons who had undergone circumcision with a cost of $36. On top of that, I paid school fees for my children a total of $48 who are in primary schools. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough food for the family and it's now a relief because we are now taking a two meals which was not achievable during those days."

"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now own a motorcycle. This has been my long-time dream to at least have my own but because of the low income, I couldn't afford it. Initially, I was employed by one of my friends and I used to be paid on commission. On a good day, I could earn $6 which was very little as per my family's needs. Being the family breadwinner it was hectic because most of the days I could fail to fulfill the family's basic needs like food. Therefore since I had the experience in operating the bodaboda business I settled for it. I am now glad to say ever since I started this business I have been getting good returns and on a good day, I normally make $15.I am currently in a position to take good care of my family without straining like before. I plan to save part of the profit and even open some other lucrative businesses like retail shops which I believe will be an additional income."

"The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is lack of a reliable source of income to sustain my family. After the collapse of my cattle selling business, life became miserable. I nolonger have any reliable source of income to meet my family's basic necessities such as food, better shelter and education."

"We are subsistence farmers, why do I say so? Because the amount of produce that we get cannot even sustain my family and pay my children school fees. With this transfer, I will be able to pay Ksh 40,000 for my daughter who is joining college and ksh 15,000 for one in secondary school. We intend to buy a cow to add to our herd tlin order to boost milk production."

"I can say it is poverty. I am old and do not have the strength to go look for grass to come fill my leaking roof. This has made my life so uncomfortable. I cannot also till my land because I am too old and feeding myself has been a challenge. I rely so much on my sons."

"The biggest hardship that I have faced is job security. When I completed my diploma in sales and marketing, I could not secure a job for a longest time and had to depend on my husband to meet our family's needs. He decided to enroll me for a degree in education so that I can get a chance to be employed by the Teacher's Service Commission and with that help him with providing for our family."

"The house I was living in was not in a good shape, it was too old, I could not afford to build a new one because I didn't have money, I used to sell vegetables in the shopping centre before but I was forced to stop due to my old age, therefore, when I received my transfer I used 400 dollars in building a house which came as a very big relief, I used the remaining transfer in buying foodstuff."

"I was at home relaxing when I heard my phone ringing, I was overwhelmed with happiness when I saw a Mpesa message that I had received the promised transfer from GiveDirectly, I immediately called my husband and broke the news to him. We all celebrated the wonderful news filled with Joy."

"Receiving this moneys means financial stability for me.I am a stay at home mum and fully depend on my husband, who is a civil servant, for a living. I will use 800usd to purchase 2 dairy cows ,100usd on 3goats and the rest of the transfers on additional chicken .The harsh climate is not favourable for agriculture in this area,therefore I will use some of the milk and eggs for the household and sell some to generate income.Furthermore, when I am low financially, I can as well as sell some of them . Interestingly, this will be a fit for me and a relieve for my husband for I will be able to assist financially."