I am the firstborn son in a family of five sons, and I have been enjoying the family resources since I married, including a share of milk from my parents' livestock and a piece of land to farm on while my younger siblings are still in school. My family is currently living on a 0.8-acre plot of land. The idea of dividing it among five of us was a wake-up call, and we had hoped to start saving for an additional piece before relocating. My plan is to invest more in livestock, breed and multiply them, and then sell them and use the proceeds to purchase some land.

Since GiveDirectly arrived in our village, a lot has changed. Not only in my household, but also in other villages, because everyone varied their spending decisions to meet their individual needs. The program execution process was extensive, and it was carried out by professionals who ensured that no one who deserved the money was overlooked. I hope that similar initiatives can be implemented in other villages to improve their living conditions.

My family of three consists of two adults and one young child. R  raising our kid and ensuring that all of his basic needs are met can be difficult at times. I am grateful to my parents for always sharing the available milk from their cows for free. During this time, I considered purchasing a dairy cow to produce milk when I could not get a liter from my parents. With the huge financial obligations, I had been trying to save from my small maize business and was glad to top up the second transfer with some of my savings, which I used to buy two dairy cows for $665. Even though they were unable to produce enough milk instantly after purchase, I am relieved that they will soon calve and produce enough milk for my household, some for my parents, and surplus for sale. I spent the first transfer on sheep that I believe will grow and whose multiplication will be useful when I sell the offspring in the future.

When I received my transfer, I was busy with farm work. Then suddenly, I heard my phone ringing. Upon checking my phone, that was when I realised that I had received a sum of KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and grateful because I knew I would be able to transform my life with the support that I had received. I then headed home and broke the news to my equally happy wife. We then embarked on planning how we would utilise our funds.

My life is different because I was able to achieve my dream. This would mean that I would no longer worry about purchasing milk for our daily use. Additionally, I would be able to save up money. This is a dream come true, what I earn is barely enough to cater for our basic needs thus purchasing a cow soon was impossible, I am so grateful for the support that lifted my living standard amazingly.

Upon the receipt of my transfer, I thought of purchasing a dairy cow so that I would save up the money that I use daily in buying milk. We use a minimum of one litre daily which is expensive because it sells at KES 60. Therefore, I used KES 38,000 on buying a cow which I was Unable to purchase before due to financial constraints since my source of income is not a reliable one. I am a casual labourer, married and blessed with two children. I then used the remaining amount on foodstuffs and clothes. I am grateful for the support that made me accomplish my dream in a short time.