My life has greatly changed after I received transfers from GiveDirectly since I currently live in an iron-roofed house that could not have happened if it was not for GD. I majorly depend on farming and hardly found casual jobs in our area. My family needs have been overwhelming that I could not invest or do extra development in the family other than taking care of the basic daily basic needs. I had a dream to build a decent iron-roofed house but the scare resource couldn't allow me hence I had to spend much of my time maintaining our grass-thatched houses. My life is currently different from how it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I currently feel so proud and happy since I also live in an iron-roofed house. I have bought a water tank that will help me harvest water during rainy season hence I will not be spending much time as I do currently to fetch water and I will have clean water at my doorstep for my domestic use. I am happy for this and I have hopes of good future now that I have built a house and I have cows and goats that I will look after to help me in future as my security for any needs arising. I feel GiveDirectly has given me a good foundation for my family.

GiveDirectly gave us free cash transfer with the freedom to spend it the way we want was the best decision and in my opinoin, I see this to be a work well done. At least we have been able to clear school fees payment, purchase livestock and also avail enough foodstuff in our households for our children. GiveDirectly was firm and fair on its decision and maintained perfect equality that we were happy with.

I had just completed a new house construction using my first transfer and I had failed to buy furniture after exhausting the amount. I took KES8000 to buy household items-chairs and tables and I am so happy that I have fully furniture new house. I feel so proud of my house it has boosted my self-esteem in the society now that I am like other families. We receive low rainfall in our areas thus we face a challenge of getting clean water during the dry season. I took KES23000 to buy a water tank that will help harvest water from my house roof during rainy season hence am certain that in the coming future I will have enough clean water for domestic use. I took another KES13500 to buy a heifer and a goat to add to what I had since this is my assets that will help in the future to face any financial needs arising and also get milk from for both household consumption and sales to generate more income to my family. I spent the remaining amount of money on my daily household expenditures and other basic items.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have hopes of soon owning a bigger house because of the new house that is currently under construction. It has been hard improving or building a new house for my family since my husband who is the family provider rely on an unpredictable casual job which at times earns him as little as less than a hundred shillings a day which we could only spend on our daily household basic needs. We also practice farming but the farm produce is too little to be sold instead we consume it in the family thus we couldn't raise money for the construction from farm produce.

At first, when GiveDirectly came to our village conducting meetings promising to give us unconditional cash it sounded like jokes and empty promise as we had before with other organization. It was around 0500 hours when I was awoken by an income message. I felt so happy when I looked at it and realized it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was so happy since I saw my dreams coming true. I felt like I was already in a new bigger and better house with the money in my mpesa account.

I am spending most of the transfer to build a house. It has always been my wish to have a better and a bigger house for my growing family. The two huts that I have been living in with children have been too small and uncomfortable for the whole family to stay in. It has been an unrealistic dream for us to build a house since we usually rely on unpredictable casual jobs since my husband and I are not employed anywhere. Even though I have a plan to start a business, I have used part of the transfer on my family clothing and food hoping to remain with some to start with.