I used to live in a small grass-thatched house. This used to serve us as a bedroom, sitting room and a kitchen. During the day, we would assemble all our beddings in one corner so that we would get enough space to sit while at night, we used to sleep with our children and we had no privacy at all. My biggest worry was when a visitor had visited and was sleeping over as I had to walk from one neighbor to another inquiring if they can host my visitor for a day or two. The construction of a more spacious house is on going and I am glad that it will be completed very soon and I am looking forward to sleeping comfortably while enjoying my privacy as a parent. I thank God for using GiveDirectly to change my life.

In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by helping poor people in the society to build better houses, purchase some livestock and pay school fees for their children and I do not see anything that they do not do well.

When I received my transfer, I spent KES 35000 to purchase some building materials that I was not able to purchase using my first transfers. We decided as a family to build a more spacious house since the one we had was small and old. Due to this, we had no privacy as parents as we had to sleep with our children in the same room. Also, I spent around KES 8000 on food that would last us for some time. I still have KES 8000 that I am planning to use in paying the workers once the construction of my house is completed.

It was exactly 10 AM I was busy at work then I heard my phone ringing I decided to ignore ut becasue my boss was around and I was afraid he would get mad when he sees me checking my phone. Therefore I decided to ignore it till the lunch hours. Wow, I was super excited after realizing that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. They had debited my first transfer as promised during the enrolment.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now a proud owner of a dairy cow which I acquired through the transfers. Dairy cows normally have numerous benefits and this was the key reason as to why I purchased them. First, in a few months to come, I will be getting plenty of liters of milk which will be for my family consumption, and sell the remaining liters in the neighboring markets. Since this business is so lucrative, I believe it will pick in a very short time hence making me wealthier. This will enable me to sustain the family's needs with ease without straining like before. I will also be able to pay fees on time for my children hence promising a bright future.

I spent part of my first transfer in buying a dairy cow at KES 15500. For all those years I have been admiring those of my neighbors and hoping someday I will own them. Also, I bought some building poles, iron sheets, nails and timber, and threads. This was for the construction of a new house becasue the previous one that I was sheltering in, was in a bad state. Also, I am using it in buying enough foodstuff fr=or my family and some other household items.