My eldest son who studies mechanics depends on me to support his education. When I received my transfer, I spent KSH 1400 to pay his fees. Being in his final year, it was wise for me to pay to ensure that he does not miss any of his tests or exams in the future. I also spent KSH 1000 to pay fees for my four children who are in primary school. I am currently the only breadwinner in the family, as my husband is still jobless since he lost his job. With the remaining KSH 600 I decide to buy food for the family to prevent my family from starving due to hunger.

I have always relied on my spouse who does not have a reliable source of income but unreliable casual work with low income that could barely meet our household's basic needs. Amidst all these, I still had this business idea of a small restaurant but I could not execute it since I did not have the means. On receiving the first transfer, I paid Ksh 1500 to acquire some little space for my business set up and used the rest (Ksh1500) to purchase cooking oil, beans, 2 kg of baking flour, and rice) which I used to start up the restaurant. In as much as I am not able to save much from it, but I am grateful because my children have not missed a meal since then. The income from it has been able to cater for my household's daily meals. My spouse is now relieved, and he does not have to strain in order to provide for the family. I'm as well blessed with five children, four in primary school and one is in college. The four who are in primary school had a fee balance of Ksh.2180. On receiving the second disbursement, I cleared the fee balance for the four, and they were allowed to sit for their end-term term examinations. The third transfer I spent on part of my child's college fee so that I could reduce the arrears he owed the institution.

In my own opinion GiveDirectly has done such a great job because through it and the funds they administer I managed to start my own business and assist financially unlike before where at times I transported water to people's home which barely made enough for my pockets. But now I feel liberated from poverty in a sense because I have become more reliable.

Well I happen to have a family of seven and that includes my husband and I and my five children and my children are still studying. Four of them are still in primary school while the oldest is studying how to be a mechanic in college but since the eldest had a more outstanding balance and since I did not want him to be sent home and get left behind with his education I paid KES 2,500. As for the remainder of the money I bought two kilograms of sugar for KES 320 and laundry detergent at KES 150.

Saying I was happy would not even cut it, because when money arrived I knew it was about time I began the project of owning my own place of business because such an opportunity had presented itself and I could put my skills to work and help in chipping in financially.

This funds enabled me to turn my goals in to a real life situation and this meant now I could also move up the ladder financially and also save some money. As of now I help my spouse in paying some of the bills and we do not always have to feed from hand to mouth meaning we gained some form of financial stability which has immensely improved the relationship with both my husband and my children

Even before receiving the money I have had intentions to start my own small business and so when the money came in I instantly went ahead to rent space in a building that was close to school, and with the space I started my own restaurant. Paying the rent for the space cost me KES 2000 monthly and I also bought the ingredients to the meals just to begin with and so I purchased six packets of wheat flour for KES 780, two kilograms of sugar for KES 240 and since the money was not enough I added a bit of my savings and bought beans for KES 200 and I was good to go.