Agriculture is the mainstay in my area. We often rely on land and livestock as primary assets for livelihood. Lately, with the harsh weather, it is hard to rely on farming. Currently, the weather has changed and my main goal is to have a piece of land and practice farming and keep goats and cows. My employer has been struggling to pay my weekly wages and I would like to employ myself soon.

GiveDirectly is the reason that I paid part of my wife’s dowry, which has allowed me to start over again after a hard time. I appreciate the funds enabled me to renovate my house and furnish it to accommodate my new wife and new life. I am grateful and my request would be for the organization to continue with a great job and reach out to many who have similar problems to mine.

I am without children and unemployed. I have been earning a living working as a herdsman. I have wanted to settle down and start my family as I am of age. I have been living in a small thatched house that was almost crumbling, but my financial situation could not allow me to rebuild my house nor pay the dowry for the woman I sought to be my wife. When I got enrolled in the program, my first transfer was used to renovate my home and the rest was used to pay a dowry for my wife. Unfortunately, she left me and I was back to my old life as a bachelor. As time moved on, I found myself another woman, and with the second transfer; I bought a bed and a mattress which was $100. I bought two goats and a calf for $170. I used $250 in the introductory ceremony with my in-laws regarding having a new wife. I was grateful and content to start a life as a married man.

As I was relaxing at home at around 5 pm from the field taking care of my livestock, I heard a message coming into my phone. I did not haste to check since the phone was in my hands. Upon checking, the first glance of the eye hit the figure KES 55000.00. I became keener and I realized that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. My heart melted in thanksgiving for receiving such a huge amount of money at once.

The biggest difference is that, I had stayed in the bachelor bracket passed the expected time for an African man because I could not even cater to my own life fully. I thank GiveDirectly or they enabled me to get a companion through the transfer that they sent me. I can not tell whether if it were not for the organization I would have married.

For several years, I had been sleeping on a mat on the floor since I did not have a bed. On getting the money I opted to end this situation completely thus, I bought a bed and a mattress for KES 9000.00. I also bought solar lights for light provision because buying paraffin every day was very expensive for me which forced me to be in the dark at night. Thereafter, I decided to get a helper because I had no wife. I got married and used KES 20000.00 to pay part of the dowry to mark the start of a long journey. For the remaining amount, I reserved for the family upkeep.