It was in the afternoon and I was taking a nap when I was woken up by the notification confirming that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy when I got the money because first of all, I was so broke at moment. Secondly, I was doubting and not entirely sure about whether the program and the promises of money were true but when I saw the text message, I was so happy because my doubts were untrue whereas the program and promises made to us were true. I had things I wanted to have which include a bed and mattress, repair my house, get a cow, food for my family and medication for my children who had been struggling with some ailments at the time I was being enrolled into the program. I had been unable to have these challenges addressed because my previous job as a local kiosk attendant had ended due to the kiosk being closed down since most of the commodities regularly asked for were not available. I resolved to casual jobs especially in construction sites as well as looking after other people's livestock for a little pay which was not enough to help me address these challenges I was facing. Therefore, I was so happy when I received the transfer from GiveDirectly because it was the answer that I could not find.

The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I do not have to undergo the kind of pressure, hustle and bustle of looking for food for my family. I used to be literally harassed by the responsibility of finding food for my family given the fact that the casual jobs I could find were not reliable neither were they regular. However, with the coming of GiveDirectly to our village and getting me to be enrolled into the program, that kind of struggle and harassment has since ended and I am so happy that I was able to address the most pressing challenges that I had been facing especially food for my family and water for most of the household activities and needs. Water was has been a serious challenge in our area but, thanks to GiveDirectly, it is no longer as pressing to me as it has always been.

I spent most of the transfer which was KES 15000 on buying a cow because it is a long term investment plan and being a young male cow its value after growing will be so high. I would be able to sell it at a price higher than the one I bought it at or barter it with possibly two female cows that will subsequently produce milk which will be food for my family as well as offer the surplus to our neighbors at a cost. This little cost will always enable me to meet my family's daily immediate needs in some way. I was unable address these issues because my previous job as a local kiosk attendant had ended due to the kiosk being closed down as the commodities regularly asked for were not available. I had to resolve to casual jobs especially in construction sites as well as looking after other people's livestock for a little pay which mainly catered for my family's daily immediate needs. I am so happy that I have this cow, and it is in good health and no longer lonely because my brother brought in his that he had taken to a neighbor's because it used to be lonely before I got mine. They are now two, and the biggest help I know I stand to benefit is that we will train these two cows to plough so that we can be offering ploughing services to our neighbors during the rainy season for a fee which will subsequently earn us some income that will enable us to meet our family's daily immediate needs, all thanks to GiveDirectly.