Currently, I aim to start a boutique business. I came up with the boutique idea after seeing people travel a distance to access boutiques and clothes shops. I am confident that this business will pick up well and enable me to cater to my family’s needs appropriately. To achieve this goal, I make some savings in a local financial group well known as a “Chama” which will see me through the business.

I had not dreamt of building a house for my children since I relied on making charcoal for sale and plaiting if I get a client. This type of job was hand to mouth. It could not enable me to do what I managed through the transfers I received from GiveDirectly. GiveDirectly is a superior organization that cares for human livelihood. I recommend its work and I pray to God to sustain the organization.

First, I would like to register my gratitude to GiveDirectly for the transfer support I received. Indeed, I am happy because it changed my life. When I received the second transfer, I opted to construct a second house. This house was for my five children while my wife and I remained with the initial house we had. Building the new house did not only restore our privacy as parents but also gave us peace of mind. This is because we used to sleep in the same house with our children. The house took KES 30750.00 including a labor charge of KES 7500.00. Thereafter, I bought two and a half sacks of maize for KES 16000.00 because maize flour was more expensive. I did this to ensure my family do not starve for hunger since it was a drought season. Lastly, to remember GiveDirectly, I bought a goat for KES 2800.00 as a sign of a living symbol of the organization at my home.

I can still remember very well it was exactly 9 in the evening when I had already retired to be when I had a loud vibration from my phone. I was so shocked and nervous since I hardly receive messages at that time of the hour. Therefore I opted to check and I couldn't believe what I saw. It was the Mpesa message from GiveDirectly that I had anxiously been waiting for. I felt so happy and blessed. Later on, I decided to inform my family members and we all could not afford to sleep due to the excitement.

The biggest difference in my daily life now is that I now have a dairy cow. Before purchasing it, I had to conduct research and even made a market survey for dairy products and found out it's profitable in our village. Since am a salonist and my spouse is a casual Labour the income I'll get from the cow will greatly help me to meet my daily needs and also pay school fees for my four children once they transition to secondary schools. I am so thankful to GiveDirectly for bringing such a huge impact on my life since I was even hopeless.

I spent part of my first transfer on buying two mattresses which cost KES 11000. I had been aspiring to purchase them for quite some time to at least change the previous beddings since they had worn out but I couldn't afford it. For a year I have been complaining of back pains, headaches and lots of fatigue every morning. It is now a relief to us because we no longer undergo such difficulties. Additionally, I bought a dairy cow at KES 20000 which I am currently keeping on my homestead. Also, I bought new uniforms and managed to send all my four children to school. Later on, I purchased a radio and I am happy that I am well updated on what has been happening across the world. With the remaining cash, I bought foodstuffs for my family.