In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to acquire a cow that will contribute to milk production for my family of two. Additionally, I aspire to establish a water refill business, as there is a need in the community for a closer and more convenient water source, as people currently have to fetch water from a distance, which is both time-consuming and also expensive.

GiveDirectly's financial support has played a significant role in the remarkable progress our village has made. In the past, our reliance on maize farming, with its long time to harvest, limited our options. However, thanks to GiveDirectly, we now have the ability to diversify our crops, including short-season varieties that provide a quicker income. The freedom to spend the funds according to our immediate needs was greatly appreciated, and the process carried out by GiveDirectly was smooth without any challenges. We sincerely hope that GiveDirectly will continue to support people in similar ways in other villages, empowering them to overcome their challenges and improve their livelihoods.

Upon receiving the second transfer, I was filled with ambition to venture into tomato farming, which has proven successful despite the high production costs. I then obtained 10,000 tomato seedlings and planted them on an acre of land. Receiving the third and final transfer was a relief, as I needed to carry out other essential field management practices, including weed control, staking the plants to prevent fungal diseases, and pest control with appropriate pesticides. I spent $400 on purchasing 20,000 stakes to support the tomato plants and used the remaining $50 to pay for labor during the staking process. Although I received support from friends who chipped in to help, the entire management process, from planting to harvesting, incurred an approximate cost of $1500. However, the results were incredibly rewarding, as I made total sales of $4000. Thankfully, our community benefits from ample water flowing by gravity, requiring only someone to monitor and direct the water flow around the farm. With the proceeds, my plans include constructing a new house for my family of two and starting a small business to ensure a steady flow of income.

Given that I am just beginning to plant a new crop, I will take things more slowly for the time being to ensure that I am giving it my all and am not taking on too much. Making this a significant source of income is my goal this year, especially as irrigation is mostly practiced  so I will be able to plant tomatoes season after season even in the absence of rain.

Since we were taken through the census, registration, and audit processes, I have experienced a very smooth and transparent process that is corruption-free, and this has given most of us a lot of confidence in stepping outside of our comfort zones and trying out new ideas to bring in money. In my opinion, Give Directly has given us an opportunity to venture into farming and even other modes of business through transparent distribution of cash.

Since we began using irrigation in this area, I've been inspired to start growing tomatoes because few farmers do it, which means that the demand would remain high. As a result, when I received the second transfer, I was ready to plant about 3/4 of an acre of land. To do this, I used $350 to order tomato seeds from Naivasha and $40 to have them delivered to Baringo. When I received the transfers from Give Directly all at once, the process was quite simple for me, allowing me to complete the planting process all at once.

I was overjoyed when I received a message around 3:30 p.m. Despite the fact that I was not expecting it that day, I went ahead and informed my spouse that evening because I could not reach her right away. I am the only phone in the house and had to return home later to relay the information. I could easily identify the source because I was not expecting any other money besides GiveDirectly's support. After reaching an agreement with my spouse on spending, I collected the money on the third day.

The most noticeable difference in my daily life is the higher standard of living I now enjoy as a result of the transfer. Even though I had a plot of land prior to the transfer, I couldn't till it or plant anything because I could not afford the certified seeds. I am currently working on my farm, tending to my crops, which I am hoping will yield a good harvest.

I am grateful that I was able to prepare my acre of land for plantation after receiving the first transfer from GiveDirectly. I bought butternut seed for $50 and paid labor charges during the plantation after blowing my piece of land with the first $50. My farm, as well as the farms of other villagers, are now irrigated thanks to a county government initiative that has aided us throughout the severe drought. I also put $30 toward the hire-purchase of a solar panel and lighting equipment. Since then, I have been making daily payments of $1, which will continue for the next year. I now have a well-lit home with security lights that have reduced wild animal attachment to livestock. In addition, I spent the remaining funds on household food items for my family of two.