When I received my second transfer, I was able to use KES 20000 to buy a dairy cow-heifer. Shortly after buying, the cow died and I was so devastated. I have gotten over it but my new goal is to be able to buy another dairy cow once I get enough money. I also have a son in his final year in secondary school and I am still required to pay KES 10000 to clear his school fees. Once I am able to clear this then I will concentrate on buying the livestock that I have purposed to buy. I know it is going to be an uphill task since I normally rely on small scale businesses to raise the money and this can provide me with just enough to make ends meet i.e buy food.

In my opinion GiveDirectly did very well by giving us the freedom to choose how to spend the money. The freedom to choose made all of us spend money in ways that we felt was going to be of benefit at individual level. This was so exciting and unique at the same time. I am so happy and lucky to have been part of this cash transfer program.

I used KES 20000 to buy a dairy cow and used another KES 15000 to pay school fees for my son who is doing his final year in secondary school. The amount that remained was used to buy food, furniture and other basic household needs for my family. I had made a decision to buy livestock since it is an investment that could easily multiply and earn me more profits going into the future. It was however very unfortunate because shortly after I bought the livestock than it succumbed to some strange illness. I am grateful that I was able to buy the cow and optimistic that I will be able to get money and find a replacement of that which died. As for the school fees, I am equally very excited that to the hopes of my son clearing his secondary school studies successfully is going to be achieved. This would not have been possible without support from GiveDirectly.

It was around 6 pm while picking vegetables in the garden that evening. That's when I heard a message alert on my phone and because my helper was around I gave him the phone. He checked and confirmed that I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with excitement and couldn't eat much that night.

The biggest difference in my daily life is relief from stress because I have cleared school fees which was quite a struggle for me. Secondly, through the transfers, I have built a modern Iron roofed house. This is because the previous one was old with leaking grassed thatched roofs. In addition, after the death of my husband according to our customs, it's a requirement to demolish his house but I had not due to lack of money to build a new house but GiveDirectly has made it easier.

Since the death of my husband ten years ago. I decided to venture into indigenous vegetable farming. This has helped me in school fees payment over the years because I normally supply the vegetables to school as a substitute for school fees for my kids. At the time when GiveDirectly transfers came, I had built my house but had stalled due to school fees burdens. Therefore I used KES spent KES 20,000 on the completion of my house Iron roofed house. Of this, KES 10,000 was used on of purchase of trees, and KES 10,000 on the purchase of Ironsheets. Secondly, my daughter had been in and out of school due to school fees arrears. Therefore, I spent KES 15,000 on payment of school fees arrears for my daughter. Thirdly, I spent KES 3200 on a bag of maize. This is because initially, during dry spells, I normally rely on rope weaving to get food for my family. In addition, I spent KES 3500 on a 320 liters water drum. This will help in the storage of clean rainwater. Furthermore, I spent KES 3500 on a sofa set seater. Initially, I used to have only one unstable bench. Last but not least, I spent KES 3,000 on a bed, KES 2,500, and KES 1,700 on two blankets. This had made me sleep more comfortably and can't be happier.