I would like to open a retail shop. My land is near the road and I would like to build a structure there. They are a lot of people who pass by and I am sure the business would flourish. Having an extra stream that brings me money will be helpful for my family.

GiveDirectly has helped the villagers. We now have business coming up and we no longer need to travel miles away to buy products. Villages are buying more land for farming which means when the rainy season is here, we will have enough food for everybody.

Before the drought, that we are currently experiencing, I was a traditional brewer using coconut to make alcohol and sell it. The business would generate $17 a week, and part of the money was used to pay school fees for my four children and also buy food for my family. During this drought season, there are no trees to harvest coconuts and so I resulted to finding work as a masonry. With masonry, I get called to work twice a week with a wage of $5 a day. This money only helps to buy food for my children and I am left to find other means to pay school fees for my children. I used the last transfer to repair my house. The roof had holes and when it rained, it would leak. My children would get sick and this devasted me. I spent $200 to buy iron sheets and repaired the roof. We now sleep in a well-covered environment and my family is happy and healthy. The rest of the $ 200 was spent on paying fees for my children and $130 was used to buy food.

Being a local wine taper, I am required to wake up very early as from 3 am. I was busy doing my job and had left my phone in my house. At around 8 am, I was through with the work and I decided to check my phone to see if I had received any communication. I was surprised when I saw the Mpesa message on it revealing that I had received the transfer. I was overwhelmed with joy for receiving the transfer that I had eagerly awaited to change my life for the better

Being able to progress with the construction of my house is the biggest difference in my life. I am happy that I have made a big step and optimistic that I will finally accomplish my desire of owning a good house. In addition, my kid was able to join secondary school and is learning without any interruption.

I had started the construction of a new two-roomed house 3 months ago but I had not completed it due to insufficient finances. This is because the one that I had earlier was collapsing that kept me worried the roof might be blown away by the wind at any time. I spent KES 30,000 to continue with the construction by purchasing the roofing materials like timber and nails. At the moment, I am about to complete the roofing. In addition, I used KES 14000 for shopping and paying part of the fees for my kid who was joining secondary school. Furthermore, I used KES 11,000 to purchase new school uniforms for my 2 daughters who were going to school with old and torn clothes which were shameful. Similarly, I bought clothes for every member of my family. With the remaining amount, I bought sufficient foodstuff for the family.