GDLive Newsfeed
We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Kitsao's Profile
Kitsao's family
Kitsao
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
workCampaign
Kenya Basic Income
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Kitsao's next check-in.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Initially I had began a project where I was building my children their own house since the house e lived in was small to fit us all and yet my kids were growing up and we could no longer be all cramped up in the house. I funded this project through the money I made from selling palm wine but unfortunately business has deteriorated with the severe drought since even the palm trees are drying and dying out and consequently I took a pause on the project. When I received this funds from GiveDirectly I really wanted to continue with the project but instead decided to save the money which was KES 3,000 because in a few months my child will be joining highschool highschool and I need all the funds available in order to help him get enrolled with no hindrance concerning finances.
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had previously begun a project of building a new house. As a result, when I started receiving my transfers, I spent them on buying 6 additional iron sheets. My aim is to cumulatively buy 30 iron sheets which will be sufficient for building a two bedroom house. Currently, I am living in a one bedroom house which is small yet I have a large family. This new big house will help in creating additional space for my children thus they will not have to spend their nights elsewhere.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done a marvelous job because I see the growth in people and their homes everywhere I go in the village and I ma honestly very happy because so much people have developed economically.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My first project that I had in mind even before receiving the first transfers I wanted to buy a water tank so that I could store water for both my family and the livestock as well because our village had scarcity when it came to issues of running water and so the first transfers enabled me to buy a tank and iron sheets. The second project that I had in mind was that I wanted to build another house for eight of my children since they were growing and they all shared two rooms so I want them to be comfortable and also have their own privacy and that is why I bought 3 pairs of iron sheet which cost KES 2550 since each sold for KES 850. My goal though was to buy around thirty more. As for the rest of the money I used it to buy water and pay for the transportation since a trip containing six gallons of water was KES 300 and both the house and the animals need water.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very excited and thankful all because as I had mentioned prior I have had ambitions to construct an extra home for my children and so with receiving the funds I could finally set motion to the plans. This was definitely very encouraging because prior to this the intentions to start the project existed but the finances were not sufficient enough to take care of the family and also at the same time try to build a home and I had no idea how I would even do it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
GH
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For a while now I have had wanted to begin a project for constructing a new house for my family because for the longest time we have lived in a small home with eight of my children plus my wife which makes us a family of ten, and so more space was definitely needed to enable us to live comfortably. So after I received the transactions I went ahead and bought iron sheets for the new house that I plan on constructing and they cost me approximately KES 1700. Then due to the fact that our area experiences a lot of drought I bought a tank about two hundred and ten litres which went for KES 2500 but I added some of my savings to the purchase because the money left was not enough.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My firstborn son is in class eight. In the next few months he will be completing a primary level and he needs money to join secondary level. I planned to start saving money for his education so as I won't strain paying school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The evening is the happiest time of my day. I usually leave home at 7 am to ride a motorbike to the marketplace and I get back home at 4 pm. This time I feel so happy and stress-free especially when I afford to buy food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a businessman selling palm wine. I transport it using a motorbike for almost 40kilometres from here every day. The challenge is most of the time upon reaching the market I find out that there are no customers and I would just come back without making any sell at all. Mainly I make sales at the end of the month just imagine what my eight kids will eat all those first weeks of the month. We are used to eat one meal in each day, one of my kids developed malnutrition deficiency as a result of hunger.